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Brown seeks to calm TV show row Brown seeks to calm TV show row
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown has met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as the Big Brother row casts a shadow over his attempts to boost bilateral relations.Gordon Brown has met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as the Big Brother row casts a shadow over his attempts to boost bilateral relations.
He hopes his trip to India will boost trade and strategic links with the UK. The chancellor has been repeatedly asked about claims Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been the victim of racist bullying on the UK show.
But the chancellor has been repeatedly asked about allegations that Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been the victim of racist bullying on the show. He has stressed that India and Britain are against "racism and intolerance".
He repeated his assurances that the UK and India are "against forms of racism and intolerance" at a press conference. An Early Day Motion penned by Keith Vaz calling on Channel 4 to take action has now been signed by 20 MPs.
"We are for countries that practise what we preach, which is a message of fairness and tolerance to all human beings," he said. Mr Brown, who hopes his trip will boost trade and strategic links, said: "We [Britain and India] are for countries that practise what we preach, which is a message of fairness and tolerance to all human beings," he said.
Racism 'not tolerated'Racism 'not tolerated'
Indian finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram has said the row had not "strained ties" between the UK and India.
But Mr Brown said the issue had been raised repeatedly with him on his trip - and it has dominated public press conferences as well as newspapers in both countries.
I don't think we should have a casual attitude to racism...We've been very tough on this issue in public and in private Jack Straw Analysis: The political row
The chancellor, who is widely expected to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, said the huge number of complaints - now about 30,000 - showed that British people did not accept racism.
Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has said that while the scenes on the reality television show were "unpleasant and not particularly tasteful" it had not been proven they were racially motivated.
But he added that it was "perhaps unfortunate" that Gordon Brown was currently visiting India and had been questioned on the subject.
Immediate investigation
Meanwhile, House of Commons leader Jack Straw has encouraged the media watchdog Ofcom to launch an immediate investigation into the allegations.
He said it would be "risible" to only investigate once it had finished, adding: "I don't think we should have a casual attitude to racism... We've been very tough on this issue in public and in private in the past and it's important we maintain that."
Shetty, 31, is an award-winning Bollywood actress
Several MPs have said the issue has raised questions about Channel 4's funding.
Labour former minister Chris Mullin said: "The current vulgarity arising from the Big Brother programme is a classic example of the case against any kind of public subsidy for Channel 4."
The prime minister's spokesman said that the British High Commissioner has contacted the Indian government about the row, "underlining the means by which we handle these kinds of complaints".The prime minister's spokesman said that the British High Commissioner has contacted the Indian government about the row, "underlining the means by which we handle these kinds of complaints".
He said it was "not a matter the [British] government itself should become involved in" and said Ofcom would consider complaints.He said it was "not a matter the [British] government itself should become involved in" and said Ofcom would consider complaints.
I don't think we should have a casual attitude to racism. ..We've been very tough on this issue in public and in private Jack Straw Analysis: The political row
But he added it was a "serious issue" and could do "enormous damage".But he added it was a "serious issue" and could do "enormous damage".
The message had to go out "loud and clear" that Britain did not tolerate racism, he said.The message had to go out "loud and clear" that Britain did not tolerate racism, he said.
In the House of Commons the Labour MP Keith Vaz called for an "urgent debate" on the remit and public subsidies to Channel 4 and TV companies' responsibilities not to broadcast racial prejudices.
Commons leader Jack Straw said he understood Mr Vaz's concern that a debate be held and said he would "try to assist him".
Ties 'not strained'
He added that Ofcom had powers to begin its investigation immediately, saying it would be "risible" to only investigate once it had finished.
"I don't think we should have a casual attitude to racism... We've been very tough on this issue in public and in private in the past and it's important we maintain that," he said.
Shetty, 31, is an award-winning Bollywood actress
Indian finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram has said the row had not "strained ties" between the UK and India.
But Mr Brown said the issue had been raised repeatedly with him on his trip - and it has dominated public press conferences as well as newspapers in both countries.
Mr Brown, who is widely expected to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, said the huge number of complaints - now more than 21,000 - showed that British people did not accept racism.
His trip is part of the largest ever British business delegation to India, with more than 150 business people from 80 UK companies.
He has said that Britain and India must combine in a "new alliance for progress" to tackle climate change and terrorism.