This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6273803.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brown seeks to calm TV show row | Brown seeks to calm TV show row |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| The chancellor has been repeatedly asked about claims Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been the victim of racist bullying on the UK show. | The chancellor has been repeatedly asked about claims Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been the victim of racist bullying on the UK show. |
| He has stressed that India and Britain are against "racism and intolerance". | He has stressed that India and Britain are against "racism and intolerance". |
| An Early Day Motion penned by Keith Vaz calling on Channel 4 to take action has now been signed by 20 MPs. | An Early Day Motion penned by Keith Vaz calling on Channel 4 to take action has now been signed by 20 MPs. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. |
| After meeting Mr Singh on Thursday, he went on to visit children at schools in Delhi, and women who have been helped by charity-run projects funded by the UK. | |
| 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. | 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. | But he added that it was "perhaps unfortunate" that Gordon Brown was currently visiting India and had been questioned on the subject. |
| Immediate investigation | Immediate investigation |
| Shetty has said she does not believe she is the victim of racial discrimination. | |
| Meanwhile, House of Commons leader Jack Straw has encouraged the media watchdog Ofcom to launch an immediate investigation into the allegations. | 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." | 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 | Shetty, 31, is an award-winning Bollywood actress |
| Several MPs have said the issue has raised questions about Channel 4's funding. | 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." | 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. |
| 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. |