Govt. Of India urges BBC, Ministries To Stop Broadcast of Nirbhaya Rapists Film in India and Abroad
04 March, New Delhi
The Government of India and judicial authorities Wednesday took steps to prevent the telecast of the controversial documentary on the Delhi gang rape incident. Both the Houses of Parliament expressed anger over the issue of Nirbhaya rapist documentary .
In an attempt to defuse the escalating row over the documentary by a British film-maker for BBC to be aired on 8th of this month, the Home Ministry asked BBC, External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Ministries and Department of Information Technology to ensure it is not broadcast in India and abroad.
The Ministry is also planning legal action against the filmmaker Leslee Udwin for violating stipulated permission conditions.
The Home Ministry had given a NOC to interviewer to shoot the documentary in July 2013 with certain conditions which included prior approval of jail authorities for releasing the documentary for social purposes only and showing the complete unedited footage of the shoot to jail authorities.
In Parliament, members cutting across party-lines in both the houses expressed grave concern over the interview and demanded action against the concerned authority for allowing such an interview with the convict facing gallows.
Women members belonging to opposition parties trooped into the well leading to a brief adjournment of the House.
Making a statement in both the Houses of Parliament, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, the Centre will review the provisions granting permission for interviews of convicts.
The Home Minister said, the No Objection Certificate to shoot the documentary was given by the Home Ministry in July 2013.
Noting that the conditions were violated, he said, under no circumstances, the documentary will be allowed to be broadcast and the government has obtained a Court order restraining dissemination of contents of the film.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today had a meeting of top officials on the issue. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, among others attended the meeting.
After the meeting, Bassi told media persons that broadcast of the documentary has been restricted and BBC and other channels have been told about it.