Source: Associated Press
LUCKNOW, INDIA, January 18: The BBC and an independent TV station were accused by state authorities of being insensitive to Hindus when they focused their filming on scantily dressed women bathers and naked holy men at the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, northern India. Sadakant, the festival commissioner alleged that the two networks misused their access to the festival by ignoring the religious significance. Sadakant said the Uttar Pradesh government has received complaints from Indians living in Britain protesting the televised coverage of the Kumbha Mela. Festival authorities have asked all the TV networks to submit footage for inspection before airing them and plan to restrict photographers and TV crews to spots at least 200 meters away from the bathing area.