BBC slammed for ‘biased’ coverage on Ram Mandir, British MP Bob Blackman raises concern

The BBC’s coverage of the Ram Mandir’s consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22 came under question in the British Parliament after a member termed it “biased” and said the BBC should provide “a decent record of what is going on across the world”.

Speaking in the UK Parliament, Bob Blackman said the BBC reported that this was the site of the destruction of a mosque, forgetting the fact that it had been a temple for more than 2,000 years.

“Last week in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the Ram Mandir was consecrated. This was of great joy to Hindus across the world as being the birthplace of Lord Ram,” Blackman said.

“Very sadly, the BBC, in their coverage reported, of course, that this was the site of the destruction of a mosque, forgetting the fact that it had been a temple for more than 2,000 years before that happened and that the Muslims had been allocated a five-acre site on which to erect a mosque adjacent to the town,” he added.

The MP further asked other parliament members to “allow time for a debate in government time on the impartiality of the BBC and its failure to provide a decent record of what is actually going on all over the world.”

Later, in a post on X, the Parliamentarian said the constituents have raised concerns surrounding the BBC’s biased reporting of the Ram Mandir.

He said that, as an avid supporter of the rights of Hindus, “this article has caused great disharmony.”

“The BBC must be able to provide a decent record of what is going on across the world,” he said.

RAM MANDIR CONSECRATION

The mega temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, was consecrated on January 22 in a grand event attended by thousands of delegates, including foreigners.

Several states declared a holiday for schools, while government offices, other establishments, and public sector banks remained closed for half a day on the consecration day. Some states declared a ‘dry day’ and asked shops selling non-vegetarian food items to remain closed until evening.

Soon after the consecration ceremony, performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, devotees burst firecrackers across the state to celebrate the ‘pran pratishtha’ of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

The following day, the doors of the Ram Mandir were thrown open to the general public. In the first 11 days, around 25 lahk devotees visited the temple.

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