NEW DELHI: The Red FM radio station is understood to have informed the information and broadcasting ministry that it had already tendered its apology to Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang and the people of the Gorkha community for the inadvertent remarks made by a radio jockey last week. In a reply to the Ministrys notice handed over today, the station is understood to have also said that appropriate action would be taken against the radio jockey who made the remarks.

The Ministry had on 29 September issued notice to Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Limited, which operates the channel, to `show cause why action should not be taken against it ?‹?“since it is prima facie evident that the remarks are in violation of the programme code of All India Radio`. The station had been given till 4 pm this evening to reply.

Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that the reply was being studied and appropriate action would be taken.

The notice had said that para 11.2 of the Grant of Permission Agreement to M/s Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Limited was clear that the channel was supposed to follow the programme code of AIR which prohibits any programmes attacking communities, anything defamatory, incitement to violence and anything against law and order. In its reply, the channel is understood to have reproduced a statement issued by it consequent to the violent situation created by its broadcast. The statement said ?‹?“Red FM hails Prashant Tamang`s victory in Indian Idol and has been supporting his entire journey right from the start. As soon as we got to know that a section of the people have misinterpreted some of the statements in our show as being insulting, we have proactively cleared our stand. As the leader in the national FM broadcasting space we are in the business of music and providing joy to all our listeners. Our shows and RJ`s use humour and satire in their presentation and the popularity of their shows is there for all to see.