Drive to stifle press freedom, says Cong on I-T ‘surveys’ at BBC offices

New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Congress on Tuesday attacked the government over the income tax survey at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai, alleging that it is a drive to stifle press freedom.

No institution is above the law, but the raids by 20 tax officials on the @BBCs Delhi & Mumbai offices &studios are a deplorable own-goal.

They will be seen worldwide as petty retaliation for the BBC documentary & as confirmation of the BJP Govts drive to stifle press freedom, tweeted Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that BBC is next on the target after Amnesty and Oxfam.

Government message to all citizens and organisations is behave, or else.Governments definition of freedom of the press is we are a free country, you are free to express your opinion as long as it agrees with mine, he said.

Practically shutting down Amnesty International and OXFAM, the BBC is next in line.Shameful! he added.Income tax department officials on Tuesday conducted survey operations at the BBCs Delhi and Mumbai offices, according to sources.

The development has come just weeks after the BBC released a two-part documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled India: The Modi Question.According to reports, employees of the broadcasting corporation were asked not to use their computer systems and phones, even personal ones.

Reports quoting sources said the employees working in the afternoon shift at the BBCs Delhi office were asked to work from home, while those present in office were asked to leave early #Drive #stifle #freedom #Cong #surveys #Telugu #TeluguStop #Delhi #Mumbai #Narendra Modi # Narendra Modi # Chidambaram #Delhi #New Delhi #Mumbai #Chidambaram #Congress #Photo #Narendra.