Reaction to Racism Row: (IN PICS)

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bsmartguy

@bsmartguy

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

The alleged racist abuse of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother house has even reached the House of Commons.

Tony Blair has not seen the programme, but he told MPs "we should oppose racism in all its forms".

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

The rows in the reality TV house overshadowed Gordon Brown's visit to India.

The Chancellor said the suspected racist remarks on the show were "offensive".

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

Mr Brown met the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Big Brother scandal was bound to have come up in their discussions.

But the Indian foreign minister said the episode would not strain ties between the two countries.

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

The BNP, headed by Nick Griffin, left, said: "This entire fuss is a symbol of how fragile and insecure this artificially created multiracial society is.

"Because they have to censor silly comments like these, freedoms of speech are being taken away. The entire thing is absurd."

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said he was taking the issue seriously, adding: "I'm not going to conduct a kangaroo court."

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said programme makers should warn housemates that such behaviour is unacceptable and that anyone making racist comments would be evicted.

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'Bullywood Bother'

Updated: 14:09, Thu Jan 18

Channel Four has insisted there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour" in the house. The controversy has done wonders for the show's viewing figures.

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