RSS on BBC docu ban: Anti-nationals using SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is allegedly being used as a "tool" by anti-India forces, RSS-linked weekly Panchjanya has said while criticising the apex court for issuing notice to the Centre over pleas challenging its order to block social media links to the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After efforts to "save" terrorists in the name of human rights, creating "hurdles" in India's growth in the name of environment, now it is being tried that forces against the country should have the right to do propaganda against it in India itself, an editorial in the latest edition of the magazine said.

Citing the apex court notice to the Centre on the BBC documentary, the editorial alleged, the "Supreme Court was created for safeguarding the interests of our country but it is being used as a tool by the opponents of India in their efforts to clear their way."

The Supreme Court runs on taxpayers' money and works according to Indian law for the sake of the country, it noted. Dubbing the BBC documentary as a "propaganda" to defame India, the editorial said it is "false" and "based on fiction". The editorial also stated that all anti-national forces take advantage of the provisions of "our democracy, our generosity, and our civilisational standards," against us.

The Supreme Court has last week dismissed a plea seeking the imposition of a complete ban on the BBC in India in the wake of the controversial documentary, terming the petition "entirely misconceived" and "absolutely meritless". Another set of petitions challenging the government's decision to block the documentary will be heard in April next. On January 21, the government issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday alleged that "Modi bashing" by some frustrated people and institutions has now culminated into an "India bashing conspiracy".

Inaugurating the Rathonda Kisan Mela-2023 at Milak in Rampur, he said some "frustrated and fraudulent people and institutions" were unable to digest India's rising global stature under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a statement issued by his office, Naqvi claimed that the anti-India "conspiracy coterie" was "frightened" due to the positive atmosphere of social and communal harmony, brotherhood and inclusive empowerment in the country. "They are trying to fire cannon of calumny from a broken cart of conspiracies."