The response of the United States and the United Kingdom to the raid by the Income Tax Department on the offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in India.
The British Foreign Office says it is closely monitoring reports of tax surveys carried out in BBC offices.
On the other hand, the United States has given its response to this issue and said that it is aware of the survey conducted at the BBC offices.
The US State Department spokesperson also emphasized the importance of independent media and its role in strengthening democracy.
The spokesperson said that we support the importance of free media around the world, we continue to highlight the importance of freedom of expression, religion or belief as human rights.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said that independent media play a role in strengthening democracies around the world.
The spokesperson further said that India’s democracy has been strengthened with independent media.
Apart from this, criticism is being made within India as well.
The Editors Guild of India, an Indian journalists’ organization, said the raids were part of a crackdown on press organizations critical of government policies.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says that Indian authorities should not harass journalists doing their work.
Apart from this, the Congress party has also condemned the raid on the BBC offices.
According to Indian media, Congress leaders have called the search a stranglehold on freedom of expression and an attempt to intimidate the media.
Congress leader Venugopal says the raids on the BBC offices show that the Modi government is afraid of criticism.
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