London/New
Delhi, Jan 17
Racist slurs against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in a popular
British TV show has caused outrage in the two countries, with the
issue figuring in the House of Commons and feminist diva Germaine
Greer, and even two Indian ministers, demanding corrective action.
With conflict and controversy known to drive ratings, television
strategists could not have dreamt up a better script for the
"Celebrity Big Brother" reality show. 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.
In London, Indian origin MP Keith Vaz raised the issue during the
Prime Minister's Question Time in parliament, in response to which
Tony Blair said he had not seen the programme but agreed "racism
should be opposed in all its forms.
Also, Dominic Grieve, the Labour Party spokesman on Community
Cohesion, condemned the comments and signed the Early Day Motion (EDM)
tabled by Vaz.
"It is quite wrong that the programme should tolerate racist abuse
and behaviour from participants and I believe it is an issue that
should be addressed immediately. I am very happy to sign Keith Vaz's
EDM," Grieve said.
In New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan
Dasmunsi and Minister of state for External Affairs Anand Sharma
took umbrage over the much-publicized remarks against Shilpa that
have made headlines in both countries, and called for details about
the incident.
Dasmunsi said the government was not accountable over the issue but
was nonetheless concerned. "The Indian government is not accountable
on the Shilpa Shetty issue as it is an arrangement with an
individual, but the government is committed against racism," he
maintained.
"We are seized of the matter and we are looking into all the
aspects. We will take appropriate action as required," Sharma said,
adding: "Racism has no place in civilian society. The world knows
that India has throughout firmly rejected all forms of
discrimination and racism."
"Celebrity Big Brother" 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.
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.
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."
Greer says that not many seem to have understood that Shilpa is "a
very good actress. Everyone hates her because she wants them to. She
also knows that if she infuriates people enough, their innate racism
will spew forth.
"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, Greer maintained.
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 while Channel 4, on which the show is being
broadcast, has also received thousands of complaints.
Vaz's EDM in the House of 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 behavior 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
behaviour 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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London/New
Delhi, Jan 17