UK Prime Minister washes hands of BBC row

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron has distanced himself from BBC “Top Gear” Christmas programme on India in which he himself featured. According to a British daily, Cameron, who is a friend of the presenter of the show, Jeremy Clarkson, “did not like” the controversial special episode.
Cameron had “the utmost respect” for the people of India, Downing Street officials said.The matter sparked off a row after the Indian high commission complained to BBC for what it described as a presentation “replete with cheap jibes, tasteless humour” and lacking in “cultural sensitivity”.
The mission demanded an apology. It is said to have received hundreds of disgruntled messages on the subject. BBC also admitted to have got 23 objections.
Cameron appears at the start of the concerned Top Gear programme, waving to its presenters and smilingly telling them to “stay away from India”. Far from doing so, Clarkson strips to his boxer shorts in front of his Indian hosts and hangs offensive banners on trains.
However, an official spokesman for Cameron, said, “The government is not responsible for editorial decisions made by the BBC or any media organisation. This is a matter for the BBC. I don’t speak for them.” The Top Gear team is known to be a politically incorrect and irreverent.