A raid conducted by the Income Tax Department at the office of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been met with criticism from Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who said that the action sends a message that those who dissent will be silenced.
The IT department conducted the raid on Friday in connection with alleged tax evasion. Thackeray slammed the move, saying it was an attempt to suppress the voices of those who disagree with the government. "This action shows that the government is trying to crush the voice of dissent and that no one is allowed to express their opinion," Thackeray said in a statement. Thackeray further said that the IT department's action was a "clear attempt to muzzle freedom of expression and to intimidate those who are working towards the development of the state".The Congress has referred to the searches at the BBC office as an "undeclared emergency," and TMC MP Mahua Moitra has criticized the Centre for its apparent preferential treatment towards Adani-Hindenburg after the I-T search. Reports of the search have prompted Moitra to tweet, "Wow, really? How unexpected. Meanwhile farsaan seva for Adani when he drops in for a chat with Chairman at SEBI office."