Prasar Bharati CEO declines invite to BBC event, cites BBC's 'one-sided' coverage of Delhi violence

Shashi Shekhar Vempati, the CEO of Prasar Bharati, declined an invitation to the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards Night, citing the BBC's "one-sided version" of the violence in Delhi last week.

Vempati specifically referred to a video story by the BBC that uncovered evidence that the Delhi police had "acted alongside Hindu rioters" in Delhi.

In a letter addressed to Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, Vempati said he was "deeply appreciative" of the BBC's initiative to "celebrate the accomplishments [of] Indian sportswomen".

However, the letter continued: "I must respectfully decline the invitation in view of recent coverage of the BBC of certain incidents of violence in Delhi. Specifically I would like to draw your attention to a video news report...on the Delhi Police. In the said report certain visuals have been shown of the Delhi Police without context to insinuate communal behaviour."

Vempati wrote that it was unfortunate that the report made no mention of the "murderous assault on the men in uniform" that resulted in the death of a head constable. He expressed his hope that the BBC will "review its editorial views on reports of this nature in line with this spirit".

Here is the letter in full.