New Delhi: Government today said it would not allow broadcast of a controversial documentary featuring a Nirbhaya gangrape convict as members of Parliament, cutting across party lines, expressed outrage over the incident.
Maintaining that it would not allow commercial use of such incidents, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was ”stunned” as to how permission was granted for the convict's interview inside the Tihar Jail here in the first place.
Making a statement in both Houses, he said he has asked Information and Broadcasting Ministry to look for ways to ban its broadcast abroad. Singh said he would also review the existing provisions for allowing such shoots inside prisons to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
The Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed surprise over the permission given for the BBC documentary based on the interview of Mukesh Singh, one of the convicts in Delhi gang-rape case of Dec 16,2012.
"I am surprised over the circumstances in which such orders to shoot documentary were given," Singh told Rajya Sabha.
"I was personally hurt by this, spoke to authorities, made sure all steps taken to stop broadcast," Singh added.
The Home Minister said that the previous government had hiven conditional permission for the interview and it seems that BBS has violated the conditions.
"Conditional interview permission was given by previous govt," Singh said.
Singh said that the previous government had given the permission for interview on 24 July 2013.
Subsequently the jail authorities gave the permission with any prior conditions like the film-makers would have to show the unedited version of the shoot or take prior approval for telecasting or publishing any part of the shoot.
Noting that the conditions were violated, he said, ”under no circumstances, this documentary will be allowed to be broadcast... Government has taken necessary action and secured an order restraining the telecast of the film.
”I was stunned and deeply hurt by this when I came to know about it yesterday. I spoke to the authorities and made sure that all steps are taken to stop the broadcast,” he said.
The govermenmt strongly condemns it and will “not allow any organisation to leverage such an incident for commercial use”.ome Minister said the government has taken necessary action to stop the telecast of the documentary.
The home minister said government condemns the December 16, 2012 incident and will not allow to leverage such incidents for commercial use.
"It has come to the notice that the said interview was scheduled to be telecast by BBC-4 on International Women's Day on March 8," he said.
"Our government condemns the incident of 2012. The government has taken necessary action and secured a court order restraining telecast of the film," the minister said.
The opposition members wanted to know why the permission for interview was given by Tihar jail authorities.
The JD(U) had given a notice for discussion on this matter in the Rajya Sabha.
The Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, “Notice reserved but I agree, interview should not have happened.”
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs M A Naqvi assured the house that the government will take appropriate action against those found responsible in this case.
“Home Minister has taken cognizance of issue, rest assured that strictest action will be taken against those responsible,” said Naqvi.
Unsatisfied with Naqvi's answer, Jaya Bachchan alleged that the government was handling the issue seriously.
“We don't need your crocodile tears,” said Jaya Bachchan.
Earlier, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued an advisory to all news channels against showing the Nirbhaya documentary titled ‘India's Daughter'.
The Delhi Police had approached a court of law seeking a restrain order on telecast of the documentary which the court granted.
In a statement, Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat said, “British film maker Leslee Udwin from BBC interviewed Mukesh Singh, one of the convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape case in which he had made offensive and derogatory remarks against women creating an atmosphere of fear and tension with the possibility of public outcry and law and order situation. Thus a case FIR no.29/15 ps Eow u/s 66A IT act, 504, 505(1)(b), 509 IPC was registered. Further a request was made to the duty MM Shri Puneet Pahwa seeking restrain on telecast /publishing/ transmission of the said interview in view of possible law and order problem. The court has passed order prohibiting the publication/ transmission of the interview till further orders.”
The interview of Mukesh Singh , one of convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape case that took place on Dec 16, 2012, by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin has created furore in India with Home Minister Rajnath Singh intervening and then Delhi Police registering an FIR in the shooting of the interview.
The police registered the case under Section 509 (outraging the modesty of women) and Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Yesterday, the Home Minister took a strong exception to the whole episode and sought a detailed report from the Tihar Jail chief on the whole issue. The interview was conducted inside the jail premises.
Reports said British filmmaker Leslee Udwin and the BBC were given permission to interview bus driver Mukesh, who was awarded death sentence for the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl on December 16, 2012.
