From: "Rich Gauszka" 



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/bigbrother.html?in_artic
le_id=429432&in_page_id=1894

The Big Brother race row exploded into an international incident today as
India formally protested about the racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa
Shetty.

Effigies of the show's organisers were burned on the streets and in Britain
it provoked over 20,000 official complaints - making it the most
controversial programme in television history.

Treasury minister Ed Balls said he was "ashamed" and added:
"The image it projects of Britain around the world is appalling."

His boss Gordon Brown, on a visit to India, condemned the bullying, led by
Jade Goody, which has seen Shetty, 31, described as a "dog" and
told to pick chicken bones from the lavatory with her teeth.

Channel 4 chiefs are now under huge pressure to intervene but remained silent today.

Asian MP Keith Vaz said they were "hiding behind a statement" and
told them they must act to end the race row.

Indian junior foreign minister Anand Sharm said there would be a formal
complaint and added: "Racism has no place in civilised society."

Followed by: "We are awaiting a report about the show. The government
will take appropriate measures once it gets to know the full details.

The Chancellor, visiting Bangalore, said the bullying was
"offensive" and diplomats said it was causing genuine damage to
Britain's standing and reputation in India.

In PMQ's Tony Blair spoke out against racism "in all its forms"
after complaints about the treatment of one of the Celebrity Big Brother
housemates.

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