The United States State Department has responded to the BBC documentary on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that while it is not familiar with the documentary, it is familiar with the shared 'democratic values' that connects Washington and New Delhi. Ned Price, a US State Department spokesperson, said in a statement: "We are not familiar with the BBC documentary, but we are familiar with the shared democratic values that connect the United States and India, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership." The two-part BBC documentary series, titled 'India: The Modi Question', has been widely criticised in India for its claims that it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of the state. The documentary has been accused of being biased and of selectively editing facts to portray Modi in a negative light. However, the BBC has defended the documentary and said that it "comprehensively" covered the events of 2002 and their consequences. The US State Department's response comes amidst growing tensions between India and Pakistan, and the US has been emphasizing the need for dialogue between the two countries. Price said: "We continue to urge both sides to take steps to reduce tensions and to engage in dialogue. We believe that direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern is essential to improving the situation and reducing tensions in the region."