While the government is mulling to take legal action against BBC after it aired the the Nirbhaya Documentary, sources say that Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where the two discussed the issue.
Sources claim that no diplomatic efforts were made to stop the screening of the documentary abroad as it isn't a government to government issue. BBC has assured the government that the documentary on the December 16 gangrape won't be aired in India.
However, it is already up on Youtube and is easily accessible. The government is planning to ask Youtube to take it down.
Here are some the reactions on the release of the documentary:
Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister: We had requested BBC not to air the documentary but they have gone ahead. We'll look into the legalities and take appropriate action.
Sanjay Hegde, Supreme Court lawyer: There cannot be any prior ban on the exercise of free speech in these circumstances. Currently there is a temporary restraint on the movie, where only one party has been heard.
Sometimes if you want to make something popular, you ban it in such a way that people can still see it. This was just a knee-jerk reaction of the government.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General: I am not going to comment on the unspeakable comments that were made by the person accused of raping this girl. There is a need to halt violence against women and for men to get involved in halting violence against women and decrying it loud and clear every time it occurs.
Shobhaa De, Columnist: Giving it a ban is a misplaced treatment. It is a type of discrimination. The ban has no real meaning. It should talk about what is happening in our society and how to control it. What are we ashamed about?
Kavita Krishnan, activist: My concern is not that image of the India will be tarnished so you shouldn't show the film. I don't agree with our government on that. My point is that when there is a judicial process ongoing, the film and manner in which it presents the issues especially the interview with one of the accused may hamper the judicial process and affect the quest for justice of victim and it is also unfair to the accused.
Javed Akhtar, Lyricist: I haven't seen the documentary and most of the people who have been squabling about it have not seen the documentary. I don't believe that it will tarnish the country's image.
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