Britain raises issue of raids at BBC offices; all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws, replies Minister Jaishankar

NEW DELHI: Britain has raised the issue of the raids conducted at the BBC offices in India with India's External Affairs Minister during a bilateral meeting today. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that the issue was raised with Minister S Jaishankar during the meeting today.

Cleverly is currently in India to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting brought up the issue of the BBC tax searches during his meeting with Jaishankar.

According to sources, Jaishankar told Cleverly that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations

In February this year Income Tax authorites had conducted searches at the offices of the British broadcaster in New Delhi and Mumbai.

Speaking to a national media, Cleverly said that BBC is an independent organisation and is separate from the UK Government.

"I didn't see the documentary but I've seen reactions in UK and India. BBC is an independent organisation and separate from government. I enjoy a strong personal relationship with Dr Jaishankar...relationship between UK-India growing stronger by the day," said Cleverly when asked about the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BBC had in January this year released the documentary film titled 'India: The Modi Question," which features the Gujarat riots of 2002. The film caused controversy for alluding to the leadership of Modi as chief minister during the riots while disregarding the clean chit given by the Supreme Court.