India and her diaspora have closed ranks around the beleaguered and bullied Shilpa Shetty and suddenly Indians seem to have the monopoly over the virtues of tolerance, equality and colour-blindness. But now is probably the best time to lay aside the holier-than-thou charade for some quiet introspection.

Perhaps Indian politicians who have jumped on the Shetty bandwagon demanding investigations and apologies should examine their own disgraceful record on divisive tactics that shamelessly use caste and religion for electoral gain. There is no country more riddled with the hateful politics of caste and the consequences of this sort of discrimination is counted not in a few tears of mortification, but in lost lives, bodies burnt, villages torched and communities destroyed.

Perhaps the Indian middle classes who are horrified at the carry-on in the BBhouse should look at the way domestic servants are treated in their own homes. They cringed collectively for Shilpa when she squealed in mock horror at the prospect of cleaning out the toilet - "OMG, I really feel like a servant now." I rest my case! And as far as being colour-conscious is concerned, isn't this the same country that made a cream bleach called 'Fair and Lovely' its best selling cosmetic?

Yes, on closer inspection the backyard is decidedly grubby all right.

Along with their protestations for justice for Shilpa, perhaps the Indian government should look at the way justice is meted out in India: it is the prerogative of the rich and well connected. If you are poor and uneducated you wouldn't stand a chance; institutional discrimination is so ensconced in the sub-continent, massive sections of the citizenry remain forever resigned to their karma.

Soon CBB will be over and Jade will be winging her way around the UK on a promotional tour of her book, Eating Your Words With Your Fingers. Shilpa Shetty will head back to Bollywood where she will be feted for being the dignified face of her country. It might just be the right moment for India to put all that righteousness to good use and make a start on cleaning out her own backyard.