DJ Manara becomes second BBC Asian Network presenter embroiled in offensive India posts
A second BBC Asian Network presenter is today facing criticism for social media posts about India.
DJ Manara, who presents the ‘Pure Spice’ show on Saturday nights, posted the messages on her Instagram stories on Tuesday 4th June.
Manara, who according to published interviews is of Pakistani descent, posted one message that describes India as the “No.1… racist country’ and states ‘I HATE IT”. Her second post features a picture of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the political loss by his BJP party in the Faizabad constituency. The post states: ‘Faizabad constituency covers Ayodhya where a Ram Temple was constructed on the ruins of Babri Masjid, demolished by the Hindutva forces in December 1992’.
The posts come only days after BBC Asian Network presenter SmashBengali was criticised for a video appearing to denigrate India.
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Manara is a prominent member of the Dialled In and Daytimers organisations, which share a number of the same key staff. She has also been given a prime DJ slot by Bobby Friction on his new ‘Arrivals’ stage at the Glastonbury Festival later this month. She has posted a number of other comments that appear religiously motivated in recent days. This includes a post aimed at prominent US politician Nikki Haley where Manara stated, “Hell awaits you Nimarata Nikki Randhawa”. Nimarata Randhawa is the Sikh birth name of Nikki Haley.
A source close to the developments said, “Some of BBC Asian Network’s younger presenters seem to be recklessly blundering into matters of national and religious sensitivity. These remarks are clearly in breach of the BBC’s impartiality guidelines, and the station management should understand the need to be extra careful in these areas.”
Previously, the BBC press office declined to comment when BizAsiaLive.com published a story on SmashBengali.
