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Sikh Peer Quits BBC Job in Censorship Row

 

A Sikh peer had quit his BBC role after 35 years accusing the broadcaster of “prejudice”, he quit in protest after the BBC said some of his talks “might offend Muslims”.

 

Due to the disagreement between the BBC and Lord Singh of Wimbledon, he will no longer deliver Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4.

According to The Time, the journalist known by listeners as Indarjit Singh, has accused the corporation of “prejudice and intolerance”. 

Lord Singh’s comments come after the BBC attempted to stop him from broadcasting an item commemorating an executed Sikh guru “because it might offend Muslims”. 

However, it was reported the Scotsman that the script was broadcast in November of last year and contained no criticism of Islam.

Lord Singh told The Times: “It was like saying to a Christian that he or she should not talk about Easter for fear of giving offence to the Jews.”

The BBC is said to have caved and let Lord Singh read the script after he threated the broadcaster he would leave his Radio 4 slot rather than have his religion’s teachings “insulted in this way”.
The 87-year-old peer filed a complaint about the way he had been treated citing it was not the first time the corporation had stopped him from broadcasting and addressing subjects important to the Sikh faith.
Despite this, his complaint was rejected after the BBC director of radio James Purnell ordered a review.

On his decision to leave the BBC, Lord Singh said: “The need for sensitivity in talking about religious. political or social issues has now been taken to absurd proportions with telephone insistence on trival textual changes right up to going into the studio, making it difficult to say anything worthwhile.

“The aim of Thought for the Day has changed from giving an ethical input to social and political issues to the recital of religious platitudes and the avoidance of controversy with success measured by the absence of complaints.

“I believe Guru Nanak [the founder of Sikhism] and Jesus Christ, who boldy raised social concerns while stressing tolerance and respect, would not be allowed near Thought for the Day today.”

For decades the BBC has suppressed the voices of the indigenous English people; now it is the turn of the Sikhs!


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