New Delhi: The United States said that they are aware of the searches at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai by Indian tax authorities.
“We are aware of the search of BBC offices in Delhi by Indian tax authorities,” said a US State Department spokesperson Ned Price while responding to an IT survey at BBC offices in India by a reporter.
However, Price laid stress on the importance of a free press around the world and asked the reporter to refer to Indian authorities for the details of this search.
“Beyond this discrete action, what I’ll say more broadly is the general point that I’ve consistently made in this context, but in the universal context text as well. We support the importance of a free press around the world. We continue to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief as human rights that contribute to strengthening democracies around the world. It has strengthened this democracy here in this country. It has strengthened India’s democracy. These universal rights are the bedrock of democracies around the world,” said Price.
ANI