"Not familiar with documentary, very familiar with shared values with India": US on BBC documentary on PM Modi

Im not familiar with the documentary youre referring to however I am very familiar with the shared values that enact the United States and India as two thriving and vibrant democracies US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday responding to a media query on a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has sparked controversy since its releaseAddressing a press briefing on Monday local time Price said that there are numerous elements that bolster the US global strategic partnership with India which include political economic and exceptionally deep peopletopeople tiesIm not familiar with the documentary youre referring to I am very familiar with the shared values that enact the United States and India as two thriving vibrant democracies When we have concerns about actions that are taken in India weve voiced those weve had an occasion to do that he saidCalling Indias democracy a vibrant one he said we look to everything that ties us together and we look to reinforce all of those elements that tie us together as he underlined the diplomatic ties that US and India share with each otherHe also stressed the fact that the partnership that the US shares with India is exceptionally deep and that both nations share the values that are common to American democracy and to Indian democracyAlso read Mumbai Who broke ground first for Bhandup hospital PM Modi or CongressIm not aware of this documentary that you point to but I will say broadly is that there are a number of elements that undergird the global strategic partnership that we have with our Indian partners There are close political ties there are economic ties there are exceptionally deep peopletopeople ties between the United States and India But one of those additional elements are the values that we share the values that are common to American democracy and to Indian democracy he addedLast week UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and distanced himself from the BBC documentary series saying he doesnt agree with the characterisation of his Indian counterpartSunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised in the British Parliament by Pakistanorigin MP Imran HussainThe UK governments position on this has been clear and longstanding and hasnt changed of course we dont tolerate persecution where it appears anywhere but I am not sure I agree at all with the characterisation that the honourable gentleman has put forward to Sunak said while responding to Hussains question on the BBC reportUKs national broadcaster BBC aired a twopart series attacking PM Narendra Modis tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002 The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platformsThe Ministry of External Affairs responded to the BBC story by claiming that it was entirely biasedWhile addressing a weekly presser in New Delhi MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said We think this is a propaganda piece This has no objectivity This is biased Do note that this hasnt been screened in India We dont want to answer more on this so that this doesnt get much dignityHe even raised questions on the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind itThe documentary is a reflection of the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again It makes us wonder about the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it frankly we do not wish to dignify these efforts he addedReferring to apparent remarks made by former UK Secretary Jack Straw in the documentary series Bagchi said He Jack Straw seems to be referring to some internal UK report How do I have access to that Its a 20yearold report Why would we jump on it now Just because Jack Straw says it how do they lend it that much legitimacyI heard words like inquiry and investigations There is a reason why we use the colonial mindset We dont use words loosely What inquiry they were diplomats thereinvestigation are they ruling the country Bagchi askedProminent Indianorigin UK citizens condemned the series Prominent UK citizen Lord Rami Ranger said the BBC caused a great deal of hurt to over a billion IndiansFurthermore the US Department spokesperson also said that the US has always called for regional stability in South Asia and that its relationships with India and Pakistan stand on their ownHe further stated that the pace and scope of dialogue between India and Pakistan is clearly a matter for the two countriesWeve long called for regional stability in South Asia Our relationships with India amp Pakistan stand on their own and we dont see them as zerosum But pace scope amp character of any dialogue between India amp Pakistan is a matter for the two countries Price said during the briefingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever