I remember when the BBC’s Asian Network was just a twinkle in its creators eyes. I was a member of the advisory council for the local BBC radio station when the proposal was put forward. At the time I was one of the many who opposed to the idea.

I thought that creating a separate radio station was divisive act for the communities. We said mainstream programmes should cater for all.

But with all the commercial stations catering for Asians, they said, they would be left behind. So it came to pass and BBC Asian Network was born. I have only been listening for the past four years or so or since acquiring a digital radio. I have been impressed by its output, though something has been bothering me of late.

About two years ago I remember one of the presenters made a remark about a criminal case which I thought was highly irregular. I wrote to the editor of that programme and got a sort of an explanation / apology, I cannot be more specific as it was a while ago.

The phone-ins since seem to have become a regular outlet for racists, sexists and bigots to spout their stuff. In past I have phoned and challenged people for calling white women promiscuous and other objectionable statements.

Many times, it’s the same person who is known to make such statements, sometimes on a daily basis.

On 9th February I was part of the discussion about the author Salman Rushdie and the Fatwa on him twenty years ago. A caller came on air and said if he was to meet the author he would pull out his tongue and cut his hands off. I challenged him that he can not come on national radio and incite violence against another citizen. He just ignored me.

The same caller was on around three weeks ago, this time saying he had slapped his wife for insulting his parents and would do so again if she “behaved in that manner again”. I phoned in and complained.

He was on air again last week, this time on immigration, deriding all Eastern European immigrants and saying that Romanians were “the scum of the earth”. I have written to the people concerned to complain but not had any reply.

This matters because no other station would get away by allowing such language on air, repeatedly. By giving airtime to a person known to have such views, the station is reinforcing his beliefs.

The station has as much responsibility for airing such views so often.

What really irks me is that Asian Network at times thinks that it is an independent body, and the rules of decency, impartiality and fairness don’t apply to them. It also seems to have forgotten that it is a public service broadcaster, funded by the license fee.

Asian Network has some excellent output but it needs to raise its standards for it to command respect and become an effective platform for the Asian community.