After blanket ban in India, BBC airs Dec 16 gangrape documentary in UK

The documentary by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin had kicked a political storm here in India with the government alleging that the film is an attempt to defame India. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday had vowed that the government will not allow the telecast of the film ‘under any circumstances’ in the country.

READ: ‘I wish judiciary, govt did more than just ban a film’

“As soon as I got to know about this, I felt an unhappiness within and I immediately called up the concerned officials… Even before I got the information, I had said that this documentary should not be broadcast under any circumstances — be it on web portals, print media or electronic media,” Singh told the Lok Sabha. “All precautions must be taken to stop it.”

READ: Rape convict interview rocks House, Rajnath says stopping telecast

The documentary, which includes interviews with the December 16 gangrape victim’s parents, defense lawyers and one of the convicts in the case, was initially prepared for a worldwide premiere on March 8 — International Women’s Day. But the BBC, post the ban of the documentary in India, decided to telecast the film on Thursday morning (Indian time).

In a statement, 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 shock waves around the world and led to protests across India demanding changes in attitudes towards women.”

READ: Gangrape convict’s interview row: Delhi Police chief briefs Rajnath Singh

“The film handles the issue responsibly and we are confident the programme fully complies with our editorial guidelines,” the statement added.

However, sources told PTI that the BBC, in a communication to the Home Ministry, has conveyed that in compliance with the government’s directive, it will not telecast the documentary in India.

On Wednesday, the Home Minister was outraged as to how permission was granted to the documentary-makers to interview Mukesh Singh, one of the convicted rapists in the case, inside the high-security Tihar jail premises. He has called for an enquiry into the case and has promised to fix responsibility for the same.

The brutal gangrape of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student in a moving bus in New Delhi on December 16, 2012 had set off stormy protests in the country which eventually led to implementation of stricter laws in connection with sexual assault. Six men, including Mukesh Singh, were convicted in the case and given the death penalty in a trial which was closely watched by everyone. While one of the convicts died in prison, another, on account of being a juvenile, was given a three-year term at a correctional home.