London/New Delhi, Jan 17 India
Wednesday said it was acting on alleged racist remarks against
actress Shilpa Shetty who has had to endure humiliation on the
British reality TV show "Celebrity Big Brother", prompting thousands
of complaints.
"Racism has no place in civilian society. India has, throughout,
thrown out any kind of racism and discrimination. We are trying to
collect the information," India's Minister of State for External
Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.
Shilpa has been the focus of attention in India and Britain, where
MPs in the House of Commons, thousands of Asians and even feminist
diva Germaine Greer have defended her against alleged racism on "Big
Brother".
With conflict and controversy known to drive ratings, television
strategists could not have dreamt up a better script. Bookmakers
have made Shilpa the favorite to win, while thousands of Asians and
non-Asians who never watched the show now tune in every night to see
what the uproar is all about.
The show, which went on air Jan 2, has a group of celebrities cooped
up together, with no access to the outside world - no TV, no
newspapers and no phones. But viewers are complaining that Shilpa
has had to suffer racist remarks from other participants.
Monday night's show, for instance, featured scenes of participants
picking on Shilpa for her cooking skills.
Former S Club 7 member Jo O'Meara made fun of Shilpa's Indian accent
and complained that she had touched food with her hands. He was
joined by model Danielle Lloyd. She said: "They eat with their hands
in India, don't they - or is that China? You don't know where their
hands have been."
During her time in the house, another contestant Jackiey repeatedly
referred to Shilpa as "the Indian" and never pronounced her name
correctly.
On the BBC Asian Network, presenter Anita Rani has launched a 'Save
Shilpa' campaign: "Let's do it. Let's unite and save the Bollywood
princess. We have to get the real Asian network working in full
force and spread the word..." The network said it had received more
calls and e-mails on the issue than any other recent topic.
Carphone Warehouse, the company sponsoring the reality show, is
reviewing its sponsorship while Hertfordshire Police said two e-mail
threats against housemates had been sent to Channel 4, on which the
show is being broadcast.
MP Keith Vaz, who is of Indian origin, tabled an early day motion in
the House of Commons on the issue, while Greer penned a
characteristically mocking piece for The Guardian, defending Shilpa
and ridiculing Britons for the way Asians are treated in this
country.
Greer wrote: "That is not surprising. This is a racist country; to
the vast majority of couch potatoes out there, Shilpa is a 'Paki
bird'... Separation breeds division, as we are always told when the
subject is religious schools in Ulster, but there is almost no
inter-penetration of English and Indian cultures in Britain."
"Endemol (the show's producers) must be over the moon because racism
has raised its ugly head. Every time someone sends in a complaint to
Ofcom about racism in the 'Big Brother' house, the profile of the
show is raised and Shilpa earns a bit more of her huge fee.
"Shilpa's enjoying herself. Ladbroke's are quoting her 10/3
favorite."
Meanwhile, the show appears set to overtake "Jerry Springer, The
Opera" as the most-complained show in television regulator Ofcom's
history. The Shilpa show on "Big Brother" has already provoked
nearly 8,000 complaints.
Vaz's motion in the Commons read: "This house views with concern the
comments made about 'Big Brother' contestant Shilpa Shetty by other
housemates; believes that 'Big Brother' has a role to play in
preventing racist behaviour in the 'Big Brother' house; regrets that
these comments have been made; and calls on the programme to take
urgent action to remind housemates that racist behavior is
unacceptable."
Noted actress Meera Syal told the BBC Asian Network: "I certainly
wouldn't have taken as much as Shilpa has taken. There is a very
thin line between what is entertainment and a vile spectacle and I
think we are in that area now.
"What this treatment of Shilpa has done is remind a lot of Asian
people in Britain of the type of uncomfortable treatment they've
received themselves over the years."
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India
Wednesday said it was acting on alleged racist remarks against
actress Shilpa Shetty who has had to endure humiliation on the
British reality TV show "Celebrity Big Brother", prompting thousands
of complaints.