Conservative MP Bob Blackman has strongly condemned the BBC for its biased coverage of the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Addressing the House of Commons on Thursday, Blackman expressed disappointment over the BBC’s portrayal of the historic event, emphasizing the need for fair and accurate reporting on global occurrences.
Blackman began his critique by highlighting the significance of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, which brought joy to Hindus worldwide. However, he slammed the BBC for reporting it as the destruction of a mosque, neglecting the fact that the site had been a temple for over 2,000 years. He pointed out that the Muslims were allocated a five-acre site adjacent to the town to build a mosque.
Calling for a debate on the impartiality of the BBC, Blackman criticized its failure to provide a decent record of events worldwide. He questioned the accuracy of the reporting and stressed the importance of unbiased journalism in shaping public opinion.
Responding to Blackman’s concerns, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt acknowledged the issues raised in a recent BBC review, indicating the gravity of the situation.
The BBC faced a barrage of complaints about an online article on the Ram Mandir consecration. In response, the BBC defended its coverage, stating that the article provided a fair and accurate account of the events. The complaints had accused the BBC of bias against Hindus and using inflammatory language.
Insight UK, in an open letter to the BBC, Ofcom, and the House of Lords, criticized the network’s biased coverage against Hindus. The letter highlighted the omission of crucial details, such as the discovery of the Ram temple by a Muslim archaeologist under the mosque and the involvement of a Muslim in the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to allocate the land to Hindus.
BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta, after being interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Today, expressed his dismay, stating, “Earlier, the BBC used to try and feign even-handedness. Now, it doesn’t even try to conceal its vilification of Hindu feelings.”
The controversy surrounding the BBC’s coverage of the Ram Mandir consecration has ignited a broader discussion on media impartiality, urging a reevaluation of journalistic standards in reporting global events. The criticism from British MP Bob Blackman underscores the importance of accurate and unbiased reporting to foster a better understanding of diverse cultural and historical contexts.
