BBC criticises India’s poverty amidst ‘Chandrayaan-3’ Mission expenditure

Industrialist Anand Mahindra reprimanded BBC with a befitting reply

                     (Credits : Times Now)

Mumbai – In the context of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) reporter has raised concerns about poverty in India. This critique drew a response from renowned Indian industrialist Anand Mahindra, who provided a thoughtful rejoinder.

The BBC’s report stated, “India’s infrastructure remains underdeveloped, and poverty is rampant. A significant proportion of the Indian population lives in impoverished conditions. More than 700 million people in the country lack access to proper sanitation facilities. Given this situation, questions arise about the substantial investment in the Chandrayaan-3 project.” India allocated 615 crore rupees to this mission, an amount less than half of the expenditures of the USA, Russia, and China on similar endeavours.

Responding to the criticism, the Mahindra Group Chairman said India's poverty is, to a large extent, a consequence of colonial rule, which exploited the wealth of the subcontinenthttps://t.co/yCPiVInqiJ

— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 26, 2023

India’s poverty is result of plundering by the British – Anand Mahindra

Anand Mahindra attributed India’s poverty to the historical exploitation by the British colonial rule. In his response, he stated, “Indeed, was the poverty in our nation not a consequence of the colonial reign you imposed upon us for decades ? This regime systematically drained the wealth of an entire subcontinent. The most valuable asset you took from us wasn’t the Kohinoor Diamond, but our pride and faith in our capabilities. Venturing to the moon aids in the restoration of our dignity and self-assurance. It fosters the belief in advancement through scientific endeavours, instilling the aspiration to lift ourselves out of poverty.”

Editorial Viewpoint

Given the perceived consistent unfavourable bias of the BBC towards India, it is not surprising to note such a stance from the network. In light of these instances, a ban on BBC’s operations in India could be contemplated as a potential measure.