BBC Top Gear refutes India's 'insult' complaint

London, Jan 18 (PTI) The producers of the controversial Top Gear BBC programme have defended themselves against a complaint from Indian High Commission that their December episode focussing on India was "offensive" saying the show portrayed India's charm, beauty, wealth and its idiosyncrasies. The programme, broadcast on December 28, raised hackles among many viewers who complained that the episode ridiculed India and its culture and people. The episode was presented by controversial Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The BBC received several complaints, while some people of Indian origin felt too much had been made out of the irreverent programme. In a letter to the programme's producer, Chris Hale, and copied to Mark Thompson, director-general of BBC, the Indian High Commission had stated on January 6 that the BBC was "clearly in breach of the agreement that you had entered into, completely negating our constructive and proactive facilitation". The Indian High Commission's letter, to which BBC has separately responded, said: "The programme was replete with cheap jibes, tasteless humour and lacked cultural sensitivity. This is not clearly what we expect of the BBC. I write this to convey our deep disappointment over the documentary for its content and the tone of the presentation". However, Top Gear said in a statement: "The Top Gear road trip across India was filled with incidents but none of them were an insult to the Indian people or the culture of the country. "Our film showed the charm, the beauty, the wealth, the poverty and the idiosyncrasies of India but there's a vast difference between showing a country, warts and all, and insulting it". It added: "It's simply not the case that we displayed a hostile or superior attitude to our hosts and that's very clear from the way the presenters can be seen to interact with them along the way. "We genuinely loved our time in India and if there were any jokes to be had they were, as ever, reflected back on the presenters rather than the Indian people". PTI