The Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the searches conducted by the Income Tax department of the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai.  This is a blatant attempt to intimidate and harass the television channel for having telecast the documentary, `The Modi Question'. 

It is a standard tactic of the Modi government to intimidate the Indian media through raids conducted by the Income Tax department and other agencies.  This has now been extended to a foreign media enterprise operating in India. 

This coercive action will further reinforce internationally the image of the Modi government as an authoritarian regime which seeks to suppress media criticism.