On Tuesday, Income Tax officials conducted a survey at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. The same has been described by the media as a raid.

The IT survey comes weeks after the BBC brought out a documentary alleging that the Gujarat riots of 2002 had the blessings of the Narendra Modi administration. The current Prime Minister was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member KC Venugopal described the IT raid at BBC’s offices as an act reeking of desperation, adding that the Modi government is scared of criticism. "We condemn these intimidation tactics in the harshest terms. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer," he added.

Countering him, BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma said that Rahul Gandhi, the "electorally vanquished leader" is always critical of Modi. "The tax department is doing its job on the back of incriminating evidence. Why are you so rattled? Why do you want to interfere in the tax probe? (sic)," she added.

Netizens are in disagreement with critics who are of the view that the NDA government is targeting free media. "BBC is beholden to the British government. It is not free by any stretch of imagination," a Twitter user wrote.

The IT raid at BBC’s offices reeks of desperation and shows that the Modi government is scared of criticism.

We condemn these intimidation tactics in the harshest terms. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer.

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 14, 2023

Modi govt is scared of criticism? Then how come your electorally vanquished 'leader' tweets gibberish 24/7 against PM Modi?

Tax dept is doing its job on back of incriminating evidence;Why are you so rattled?

Why do you want to interfere in the tax probe?#ITRaid #BBCdocumentary https://t.co/6PJhHoTKmQ

— Sanju Verma (@Sanju_Verma_) February 14, 2023