London:
Prime Minister David Cameron and his office are trying to make it clear that he should not be associated with a
Top Gear India special that has provoked a strong protest from India for allegedly lampooning Indian culture.
Downing Street, in a statement issued yesterday, said that Prime Minister Cameron has "the utmost respect" for the people of India. UK media quotes an official statement from his office that clarified "the government is not responsible for editorial decisions made by the BBC or any media organisation."
Top Gear is produced by the BBC. Mr Cameron appears briefly in the episode.
Yesterday, the Indian High Commission lodged a formal complaint for the alleged cultural insensitivity and "tasteless humour" demonstrated by presenter Jeremy Clarkson. In its January 6 letter to the programme's producer, Chris Hale, and copied to Mark Thompson, director-general of BBC, the High Commission said the BBC was "clearly in breach of the agreement that you had entered into, completely negating our constructive and proactive facilitation". Senior Labour MP Keith Vaz, who called for a BBC apology when the programme was broadcast over Christmas, told The Telegraph last night: "It seems that the reasons given by the BBC in order to obtain their visas to go to India did not disclose the true nature of the content of this programme."
The BBC has confirmed receiving 23 complaints about the programme, and has said it will directly respond to the Indian High Commission's letter.