BBC Asian Network’s “Big Debate” drew massive flak and caused outrage across social media after a clip of a caller using a misogynistic slur for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother on the show surfaced on Twitter.
A speaker who had dialled in for an episode of the live radio show, which was broadcast early on 1 March, used an offensive phrase in Punjabi against the mother of PM Modi. “This offensive statement… is a common Punjabi offensive slur that is used to degrade women with the sole purpose to offend,” noted the Twitter handle ‘British Indians Voice’.
Since the video clip was shared on Twitter, many have slammed BBC and the radio show host for allowing such a comment to be aired, while others have called out to the UK’s Office of Communications to review the broadcaster’s licence. Users also marked their tweets with the hashtags #BoycottBBC and #BanBBC, causing them to trend on the platform.
“This is absolutely disgusting! BBC Asian Network needs to be held accountable for such vile language used during the day when minors can be listening and such disgraceful words used against India’s Honourable Prime Ministers mother. Serious action needed!! (sic)” said a Twitter user.
Host Piya Rai issued an apology later during the show, saying, “Before we carry on though, we would like to apologise for some of the offensive language used by the guest on the show earlier. It’s a live show and we discuss controversial issues often. There was no reason for the type of language that was used and I would like to say sorry again for any offence that was caused.”
The BBC also edited the programme to remove the derogatory remarks and issued a statement which clarified, “This programme has been edited since the broadcast.”
The caller had uttered the offensive slur during the course of a debate on the topic of racism against Sikhs and Indians in the United Kingdom. However, the talk had veered towards the massive ongoing protests against the three new farm laws which are seeing the participation of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
