As the income-tax survey was in progress at British media house BBC’s offices in India, the ruling BJP accused the BBC of being a tool to unleash propaganda against India.

Defending the income-tax department action, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the timing of the action was not decided by any government or outside power.

“BBC is the most corrupt organisation which has little regard for India’s Constitution while it works from here,” Bhatia told media persons. “Any independent journalism is welcome but the BBC spreads malice propaganda in the guise of journalism.”

He claimed that the BBC has a history of working with malice against India. Bhatia said the opposition parties were reacting even when the investigation is on, and they should let the agency do their work.

“The Congress should remember that its own leader and former prime minister Indira Gandhi had imposed a ban on the BBC,” he said. “The BBC wishes to operate in India yet refuses to respect the icons of the country. In a BBC programme, its presenter had the audacity to say that Mahatma Gandhi had failed in his attempt to liberate India in 1946.”

He cited BBC’s reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a charismatic young militant and allegedly called Holi a filthy festival.