Sikh panellist disrupts BBC show to protest Punjab violence

Expressing his dissent over lack of media coverage of violence against Sikhs in Punjab, a panellist from the community disrupted BBC’s ‘Sunday Morning Live’ show, a media report said.

Expressing his dissent over lack of media coverage of violence against Sikhs in Punjab, a panellist from the community disrupted BBC’s ‘Sunday Morning Live’ show, a media report said.

“I have to say Sikhs are being killed in Punjab and nobody is reporting it. Please report it,” Jagmeet Singh, representing Britain’s educational charity Basics of Sikhi, said as he stood up in front of the camera interrupting presenter Sian Williams, the Independent reported on Monday.

Williams responded by threatening to have Singh thrown out of the show.

“Jagmeet I will have to get you taken out unless you are polite and show respect for guests here and our audience at home,” she was quoted as saying.

After the altercation, Williams diverted viewers’ attention to an unrelated clip. When cameras returned towards the panel, Singh was gone.

Basics of Sikhi later accused the presenter of “belittling” Singh.

“So disappointed by the BBC’s treatment of Jagmeet Singh on Sunday Morning Live this morning. The presenter shut down Singh and repeatedly belittled him from bringing up the issue of violence against Sikhs in Punjab,” the charity posted on Facebook.

“On live TV, unplanned things happen and this was dealt with professionally and appropriately by Sian,” a BBC spokesperson said about the incident.