Shilpa Shetty episode not to impact India

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Shilpa Shetty episode not to impact India-UK ties: FM

New Delhi, PTI:

India today said the allegations of racist attacks on actor Shilpa Shetty in a British television show would not impact ties between the two countries.

"This will pass... The episode has not strained ties between the two governments and people of India and UK," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said during a joint press conference with UK Chancellor of Exchequer Gordon Brown for launch of the India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Brown said after the news of insults on Shetty surfaced, thousands of Britons condemned it.

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He said UK wants to send a message that nothing that impacts its reputation as a "fair and tolerant" society would be accepted.

"We are against any form of racism," Brown said, adding that both India and UK have shared values of fairness and tolerance.

"I am confident that the universal condemnation of the racist remarks will result in change in behaviour of persons associated with the programme," Chidambaram said.

Shilpa Shetty, 31, who features in the reality TV show 'Celebrity Big Brother' on Channel 4, broke down in tears on Monday after allegedly being taunted by fellow house-mates about her skin colour, accent and cooking.