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New Delhi: Over 50,000 people have signed an online petition against a BBC report that “overtly or covertly attempted to put the blame on Sinhalese Buddhists” for the 21 April blasts in Sri Lanka that claimed the lives of over 250 people.

“From the time the bombs exploded on the 21st April the BBC reports were followed by comments which either overtly or covertly attempted to put the blame on Sinhalese Buddhists”, the petition said.

The petition was started three days ago by British citizens of Sinhalese origin from a group named Global Sri Lankan Forum United Kingdom.

The petition said, “The BBC had been following anti Sinhalese and anti Sinhalese Buddhists line for the last 25 years”, which may mislead and offer a “prejudiced view” to an audience who “does not know much about Sri Lanka”.

The petition said the BBC over the years has appeared to portray Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as if “they were innocent cubs and not the world’s most brutal terrorists”.

The petition urged BBC to “have a review of the extra-comments used when referring to Sri Lanka and attempt to be more realistic and rational”.

Also read: From Easter attacks to the uncivil war: Inaction marks Sri Lanka’s bloody history

The BBC commentator

Much of the ire the BBC received from the petitioners was also because of its choice of commentator and views aired by him. The commentator Thusiyan Nandakumar is a Tamil based in the UK and a doctor by profession.

Soon after the 21 April blasts, Nandakumar had shared a clip of his BBC interview on Twitter, in which he said it was not entirely clear who was responsible for the blasts and that “it’s possible there’s some local connection” because “Sri Lanka has a long history of violence” and “there’s been a lot of ethnic and religious tensions for decades”.

After he shared the clip, he not only got criticism, but death threats too.

“This clip of me on the BBC earlier today is going viral on Sinhala Facebook…I’m being called a ‘terrorist’ and other racist slurs because of it,” he had tweeted.

This clip of me on the BBC earlier today is going viral on Sinhala Facebook. One of about a dozen interviews I did today. Over 1.2k shares and hundreds of comments, in just a few hours. I’m being called a ‘terrorist’ and other racist slurs because of it. #SriLankaBlasts pic.twitter.com/QByGbi6n5K — Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar (@Thusi_Kumar) April 21, 2019

Nandakumar said in another tweet, posting screenshots of offensive messages, “my family and I have had more (7,000 + on @instagramalone) death threats.”

Amidst the tragedy on the island, my family and I have had more (7,000 + on @instagram alone) death threats. I've been called the N word, warned not to go to Sri Lanka, that 'STF boys' are waiting. My family have been threatened with rape. I won’t share any more on this. /1 pic.twitter.com/SjaAjqLpMw — Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar (@Thusi_Kumar) April 23, 2019

His support for Eelam

Nandakumar has been supportive of Eelam, which is a proposed independent state that Tamils in Sri Lanka wished to create.

In May 2009, after the Sri Lankan civil war ended, Nandakumar was quoted in a media report as saying, “With the fall of the LTTE militarily, the British government has no excuse but to act. They kept calling the Tigers ‘terrorists’, but now this is about the plight of thousands of civilians.

“…I know of a lot of people who might have been even anti-LTTE in the past, and even they are talking about taking up guns…At the same time, people can see that the armed struggle was necessary,” he had said.

Nandakumar had earlier tweeted a photo of veteran politician Tony Benn, holding a flag of Tamil Eelam.

He captioned it, saying: “5 years ago we lost Tony Benn – a veteran politician, devoted activist and staunch supporter of the Tamil struggle. My personal memory of him is from 2009, when he joined thousands of us on the streets, protesting in London, calling for a ceasefire in #SriLanka.”

5 years ago we lost Tony Benn – a veteran politician, devoted activist and staunch supporter of the Tamil struggle. My personal memory of him is from 2009, when he joined thousands of us on the streets, protesting in London, calling for a ceasefire in #SriLanka. #TonyBenn pic.twitter.com/s54NqLs9dV — Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar (@Thusi_Kumar) March 14, 2019

The backlash

Offering another take on Nandakumar’s BBC interview, a social media user named Vikum Wijekoon wrote on Medium.com, “BBC interviewer asked him this question ‘(Sri Lanka) is a religiously tolerant place usually?’ for that this person replies ‘I wouldn’t call it that. The island has a history of violence actually, you’ve seen a lot of violence by the majority Sinhala Buddhists led community against the other minorities across the island’. And, went on to subtly imply that Sinhala Buddhists are behind these attacks.”

Wijekoon also shared images from Nandakumar’s social media, indicating Nandakumar is supportive of the deceased leader and LTTE founder Velupillai Prabhakaran.

In defence of Nandakumar & BBC

Antony Dore, senior editor at BBC World News, defended Nandakumar and BBC, saying, “Thusiyan Nandakumar was one of many contributors we’ve used on this terrible, unfolding story. He was replying to a question about the political situation in Sri Lanka. Earlier he’d said no-one knows who carried out the attacks which is also what @BBCWorld has been saying all day”.

Thusiyan Nandakumar was one of many contributors we've used on this terrible, unfolding story. He was replying to a question about the political situation in Sri Lanka. Earlier he'd said no-one knows who carried out the attacks which is also what @BBCWorld has been saying all day — Antony Dore (@antonydore) April 21, 2019

Also read: Easter massacre opens door for strongman Rajapaksa to return in Sri Lanka

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