Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password
Reason logo

Reason's Annual Webathon is underway! Donate today to see your name here.

Reason is supported by:
Justin Emsoff

Donate

India

Brickbat: Watch What You Say

Charles Oliver | 2.22.2023 4:00 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
The BBC logo against a brick wall. | Chris Dorney | Dreamstime.com
(Chris Dorney | Dreamstime.com)

Indian tax officials raided the offices of the BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai. The raids came weeks after the Indian government declared a BBC documentary on deadly 2002 riots in the state of Gujarat to be propaganda and used emergency powers to ban it from YouTube, Twitter, and other social media. In the documentary, then-British foreign secretary Jack Straw and others accuse current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002, of condoning violence against Muslims. The riots left more than 1,000 dead.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Lou Dobbs Is the Main Obstacle to Fox’s Defamation Defense

Charles Oliver is a contributing editor at Reason.

IndiaFree SpeechRaidNarendra ModiBrickbats
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (20)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Adans smith   3 years ago

    They'd never send cops after people for wrong think in Great Britain would they?

    1. DebraBoucher   3 years ago (edited)

      I’m making over $7k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life.

      This is where i started………….>>> http://www.jobsrevenue.com

    2. JohnZ   3 years ago

      Perish the thought. The British people are free to say whatever they think.
      It's just that they better not say it around the gestapo( police.)

      1. sisag   3 years ago (edited)

        ●US Dollar Rain Earns upto $550 to $750 per day by google fantastic job oppertunity provide for our community pepoles who,s already using facebook to earn money 85000$ every month and more through facebook and google new project to create money at home withen few hours.Everybody can get this job now and start earning online by just open this link and then go through instructions to get started..........
        See this article for more information————————>>>http://www.dailypro7.com

  2. Jerry B.   3 years ago

    Don't give the Democrats any ideas.

    1. Fist of Etiquette   3 years ago

      Use the IRS against ideological enemies or pressure social media to censor politically embarrassing content? Never!

    2. SQRLSY One   3 years ago

      Don't give Trump MORE ideas!

      https://www.npr.org/2020/05/28/863932758/stung-by-twitter-trump-signs-executive-order-to-weaken-social-media-companies

    3. mad.casual   3 years ago (edited)

      Who are the analogical Democrats here and are we not supposed to give them the idea to abuse the media to cover up their abuses or the idea to support violent riots against disfavored and/or minority social/religious/political groups?

  3. InsaneTrollLogic   3 years ago

    Thing is, the documentary was never shown in India. It was shown on BBC in the UK. That's how out of line and crazy Modi is.

  4. Chumby   3 years ago

    Indian officials gave the BBC the opportunity to instead head to Target, buy them a gift card and read off the numbers on the card.

    1. SRG   3 years ago

      Ha, excellent. "Otherwise we are sending police to your home in 24 hours".

  5. Quo Usque Tandem   3 years ago

    If you're going to repress and censor, at least do it openly and honestly, without dissembling.

    Looks like India passed the test.

  6. Dillinger   3 years ago

    >>Jack Straw

    we can share the women, we can share the wine.

    1. Unicorn Abattoir   3 years ago (edited)

      DAMN YOU!!!!! I gotta be faster next time.

      1. Dillinger   3 years ago

        cut his buddy down ...

  7. DebraBoucher   3 years ago (edited)

    I’m making over $7k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life.

    This is where i started………….>>> http://www.jobsrevenue.com

  8. Earth-based Human Skeptic   3 years ago

    Brown people take down whitey? Totes "legal" under the pending global DEI Constitution. See Article V: Intersectionality.

  9. JohnZ   3 years ago

    So the British gooberment has a problem when their office of propaganda is raided but have no problem with arresting British citizens for "thought crime".
    How odd.
    One would believe George Orwell was some sort of clairvoyant.
    Don't despair, Tony Blair will keep the torches of freedom and liberty lit.

  10. evelynpiper   3 years ago

    Google is testing new artificial intelligence-powered chat products that are likely to influence a future public product launch. They include a new chatbot and a potential way to integrate it into a search engine.

  11. MelanieJosie   3 years ago (edited)

    Google is by and by paying $27485 to $29658 consistently for taking a shot at the web from home. I have joined this action 2 months back and I have earned $31547 in my first month from this action. I can say my life is improved completely! Take a gander at it what I do…..
    For more detail visit the given link……….>>> http://www.jobsrevenue.com

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Webathon 2025: Dec. 2 - Dec. 9 Thanks to 762 donors, we've reached $533,200 of our $400,000 $600,000 goal!

Reason Webathon 2023

Donate Now

Latest

Trump Thinks a $100,000 Visa Fee Would Make Companies Hire More Americans. It Could Do the Opposite.

Fiona Harrigan | From the January 2026 issue

Virginia's New Blue Trifecta Puts Right-To-Work on the Line

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 12.6.2025 7:00 AM

Ayn Rand Denounced the FCC's 'Public Interest' Censorship More Than 60 Years Ago

Robby Soave | From the January 2026 issue

Review: Progressive Myths Rebuts the Left's Histrionic Takes

Jack Nicastro | From the January 2025 issue

French Study on mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Finds a Drop in Severe COVID—and No Increase in Deaths

Ronald Bailey | 12.5.2025 4:25 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

HELP EXPAND REASON’S JOURNALISM

Reason is an independent, audience-supported media organization. Your investment helps us reach millions of people every month.

Yes, I’ll invest in Reason’s growth! No thanks
r

I WANT TO FUND FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS

Every dollar I give helps to fund more journalists, more videos, and more amazing stories that celebrate liberty.

Yes! I want to put my money where your mouth is! Not interested
r

SUPPORT HONEST JOURNALISM

So much of the media tries telling you what to think. Support journalism that helps you to think for yourself.

I’ll donate to Reason right now! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK

Push back against misleading media lies and bad ideas. Support Reason’s journalism today.

My donation today will help Reason push back! Not today
r

HELP KEEP MEDIA FREE & FEARLESS

Back journalism committed to transparency, independence, and intellectual honesty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

STAND FOR FREE MINDS

Support journalism that challenges central planning, big government overreach, and creeping socialism.

Yes, I’ll support Reason today! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK AGAINST SOCIALIST IDEAS

Support journalism that exposes bad economics, failed policies, and threats to open markets.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BAD IDEAS WITH FACTS

Back independent media that examines the real-world consequences of socialist policies.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BAD ECONOMIC IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE. LET’S FIGHT BACK.

Support journalism that challenges government overreach with rational analysis and clear reasoning.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Support journalism that challenges centralized power and defends individual liberty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BACK JOURNALISM THAT PUSHES BACK AGAINST SOCIALISM

Your support helps expose the real-world costs of socialist policy proposals—and highlight better alternatives.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

STAND FOR FREEDOM

Your donation supports the journalism that questions big-government promises and exposes failed ideas.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BACK AGAINST BAD ECONOMICS.

Donate today to fuel reporting that exposes the real costs of heavy-handed government.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks