Australia: Action urged against Ganga-ridiculing radio show

Hindus urge action by Australian Media Authority in Ganga-ridiculing radio show

Hindus are urging Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to take appropriate action against radio host Kyle Sandilands, Sydney’s radio station “2dayFM 104.1" and its owner "Southern Cross Austereo" for ridiculing their sacred river Ganga and India.

ACMA is Australian Government’s statutory authority responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, internet, radiocommunications, and telecommunications, with Chris Chapman and Richard Bean as Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively and offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. In one recent "Kyle and Jackie O Show" at “2dayFM 104.1", popular host Kyle Sandilands termed India’s river Ganga as “junkyard” and India a “shit hole”.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Hindus and people of India descent world over were upset about unnecessary denigration of their sacred river and malicious caricaturing of India.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Ganga was sacred to one billion Hindus worldwide and such remarks were very hurtful to the devotees. Besides apparently denigrating the religion, it was belittling the entire community.

Rajan Zed further said that despite perturbed Hindus and people of India descent, "Southern Cross Austereo" CEO Rhys Holleran, “2dayFM 104.1" management and Kyle Sandilands had not come up with a public apology. They should be more sensitive when handling faith related topics, as radio was a forceful medium, Zed argued.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at, Zed pointed out.

It is believed that bath in the sacred Ganga purifies one of all sin, and its water if taken daily confers immortality. It finds mention in Rig-Veda; the oldest scripture of the world still in common use. Kumbh Mela has been seeing an influx of about 70-100 million people from world over coming to take a dip in Ganga.

Kyle Dalton Sandilands, 40, is an Australian radio and TV personality. This show at 6-9 am weekdays, hosted by him with Jacqueline Henderson, reportedly airs on selected Today Network stations across Australia and also on Take40 Australia. "Southern Cross Austereo" claims to be the creator of more hours of live content than any other broadcast media in Australia and "First in Entertainment Media Solutions". Tagline of “2dayFM 104.1" is "Sydney's Hit Music Station".

Recently, a model displayed an image of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi on swimwear at a fashion event held in Sydney, which caused worldwide protests. Swimwear company immediately apologized, halting all its related production, and promising that the protested swimwear would never be available for sale.

ENDS

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