A senior Indian government minister has condemned the BBC for screening the controversial documentary India’s Daughter.
Speaking to Indian broadcaster NDTV, home minister Rajnath Singh said the corporation should not have shown the programme about the gang-rape and murder of 23-year-old Jyoti Singh on a New Delhi bus in 2012.
Mr Singh said: “We had asked to not release the documentary, but BBC still released it.
Rajnath Singh (D Chakraborty/Demotix)
“We will investigate and the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) will take action accordingly.
“The conditions have been breached so action will be taken accordingly. I won’t comment any further on it.”
Shown on BBC Four last night, the film, which has been banned in India, told the harrowing story of a crime that sparked unprecedented riots and protests across the country.
Defending its decision to bring the transmission forward, the BBC said: “This harrowing documentary, made with the full support and co-operation of the victim’s parents, provides a revealing insight into a horrific crime that sent shockwaves around the world and led to protests across India demanding changes in attitudes towards women.
Bus driver Mukesh Singh featured in the documentary (BBC/Assassin Films)
“The film handles the issue responsibly and we are confident the programme fully complies with our editorial guidelines.
“The documentary has the backing of a number of other public service broadcasters, however the BBC is only responsible for transmission of the film in the UK.
“Given the intense level of interest in the Storyville film India’s Daughter, we have brought transmission forward… on BBC Four to enable viewers to see this incredibly powerful documentary at the earliest opportunity.”
If you missed India's Daughter, you can watch it on iPlayer here
