An Australian radio show host is facing criticism from the Indian community over his reportedly derogatory comments on India and Hinduism, in which he called the river Ganga a ‘junkyard.'
A Sydney-based Indian group is seeking an apology from the 2Day FM 104.1 radio station following a report that host Kyle Sandilands made anti-India comments on his show called “Kyle and Jacky O.”
According to a report by a local ethnic TV programme ‘Desi Kangaroos,' Mr. Sandilands said “India is a shit hole” and went on to describe the Ganga as a ‘junkyard.'
The Council of Indian Australians (CIA) lashed out at Mr. Sandilands for the “insulting” remarks, and said that it would take up the issue with Australia's media regulatory body if it was not amicably resolved.
“Sandilands made insulting comments against India and ridiculed River Ganges [Ganga] which is a sacred river for Hindus. His ridicule involved some of the practices of the followers of Hinduism,” CIA president Yadu Singh said in a statement.
Mr. Singh said that he found Kyle's comments “insensitive, insulting, hurtful and unwarranted” and that he was upset and angered by them.
“The Indian Australian community is a peaceful and tolerant community. It does not attack any nation, national group or religious practices of any group. Members of the community are obviously not happy when others attack them or their belief system,” he said.
The CIA has written to his radio station, demanding an apology from it and from Sandilands. It said it would pursue the matter and seek a satisfactory resolution, failing which the matter would be pursued with the Australian Communication & Media Authority (ACMA).
