'Racist' attack on Shilpa figures in British Parliament

LONDON: The alleged racist comments made against 'Big Brother' contestant and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty were raised in the House of Commons on Tuesday by NRI Labour MP Keith Vaz, saying such behaviour is 'unacceptable'.

In an Early Day Motion, Vaz said, "That this House views with concern the comments made about Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty by other housemates, believes that Big Brother has a role to play in preventing racist behaviour in the Big Brother house, regrets that these comments have been made, and calls on the programme to take urgent action to remind housemates that racist behaviour is unacceptable."

The programme is being investigated by OFCOM, the TV regulator, after it received over 2,000 complaints, mostly regarding the treatment of Shilpa Shetty.

Vaz said, "I have been contacted by constituents who have expressed concern that apparently racist comments in the Big Brother house have passed without any response from the Big Brother programme."

He said, "We would not tolerate this kind of racism on other types of television programme and we should not do so on a programme that is watched by millions of people."