1. BBC Radio Asian Network bans Sikh greeting "Bhole so Nihal – Sat Sri Akal"

BBC Radio Asian Network has banned Sikh greeting "Bhole so Nihal – Sat Sri Akal" at the start of Punjabi programmes; senior management of the radio station still does not allow daily news in Punjabi, does not provide a fair proportion of Punjabi programmes, does not provide a fair proportion of Punjabi songs / music, despite the fact that Punjabis comprise 70% of all Indians and Pakistanis living in the UK. Every song played on the radio station means that royalty monies have to be paid to the singers; so why are Punjabi singers being penalised by having fewer records played? However, the radio station allows greetings / plays music on other language programmes, e.g. Allaha Hu, Jai se Krishan, Khudda Hafish, etc. Even the small Mirpuri district in Pakistan gets a 2 hour "Mirpuri" language programme. Sunrise radio station in the Greater London area can provide daily news in Punjabi, so why not the BBC station? The BBC station has recruited personnel to provide daily news in other languages, and has trained up Punjabi presenters to speak in Urdu and Hindi, why not Punjabi? The racial discrimination against the Punjabi language (spoken by Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus) needs to be stopped.

This radio station can now be heard throughout Britain on satellite digital channel 930 (from 19 Nov 1999 onwards). This was one of the BSF demands in the Petition presented by the BSF to BBC Head Office, London, on 11 December 1998; the Petition was signed by thousands of people, including many MPs, MEPs, Councillors, etc from all over the country. BSF welcomes the implementation of this promise given to the BSF by top BBC Directorate.

2. Radio XL against Punjabi Community

Radio XL (which broadcasts throughout the Midlands) racially discriminates against the Punjabi Community by providing only 4 hours of dedicated programmes in the Punjabi language out of a total 168 hours a week; although the Punjabi Community provides some 80% of the advertising for the radio station. Radio XL does not provide fair and proportionate coverage for the Punjabi language for programmes, songs, daily news, etc., even though Punjabis comprise 70% of all Indians and Pakistanis living in the UK. Even the Commission for Racial Equality has stated that the most spoken language by British Asians is Punjabi.

3. BBC Asian Awards – Amit Roy –nominee for best Asian writer

Amit Roy, wrote some articles in The Sunday Telegraph on 29 January 1995, which carried criticism of Sikhs, e.g. madness under a turban, women have a reputation of being the most uninhibited, madness that expresses itself in unpredictable acts of extreme violence, etc. but he was nominated as best Asian writer for the BBC Asian Awards. How insulting for the 600,000 strong British Sikh Community. Please write and complain to the BBC, your Councillors, MPs, and MEPs, and ask the BBC to make an apology. Do not let Amit Roy or the BBC get away with it.

13 December 1999