London: Controversial TV personality Jeremy
Clarkson has once again been accused of racism after mocking
Indian culture in a 'Top Gear' Christmas Special on BBC.
Viewers were furious after Clarkson staged a series of
Carry On style digs at India's trains, toilets, clothing, food
and history, The Daily Mail reported.
At one point, the controversial presenter ridiculed the
unhygienic conditions and lack of sanitation among the poor by
driving around the slums in a Jaguar fitted with a toilet.
A spokesman for the BBC said they have been 23 complaints
about content "offensive to India" in the programme, which was
broadcast on Wednesday evening.
She added: "If viewers or religious groups want to
complain, they can complain to the BBC. We won't be responding
through the media."
Clarkson was earlier involved in another controversy
earlier this month.
Clarkson was forced to apologise after saying striking
public sector workers should be shot in front of their
families during an appearance on The One Show on BBC1.
After his latest act, many viewers, however, took straight
to social networks and internet message boards to voice their
objections about the show, in which the Top Gear team set out
to boost British trade links with the subcontinent.
In one scene on the programme, Jeremy Clarkson was seen
stripping off his trousers in front of two Indian dignitaries
to show them how to use a trouser press, the report said.
In another shocking set-piece, the Top Gear team put
banners promoting British industry on trains.
One read, 'British IT is good for your company', and
another, 'Eat English muffins'.
But the messages turned obscene when the carriages of the
trains split.
Adding insult to injury, the latest programme was shown
just two days after the murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve in
Salford on Boxing Day, the daily said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 31, 2011, 13:39