A Bolton MP has added her voice to more than 100 people expressing concerns about the “sudden disappearance” of a journalist from the airways.
Radio presenter and former BBC reporter Sangita Myska has not been broadcasting at the station since reportedly being taken off air on April 20.
There has been mounting speculation on social media that the departure was due to an interview Ms Myska conducted with an Israeli spokesperson.
Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi has now signed an open letter in Ms Myska’s support.
Ms Qureshi said: “Sangita is a brilliant journalist and a rare voice from working class minority background in our media.
“I signed the open letter to show my support to her and the work she has down over the years.”
LBC announced last week that Ms Myska will be leaving the station at the end of her contract.
LBC has kept the YouTube clip of the broadcast on its channel.
Now, Ms Qureshi is one of many prominent people from around the country, including Welsh singer Charlotte Church, to have expressed her concern about this absence.
More than 35,000 people have also signed a petition on Change.org calling for Ms Myska to be reinstated.
The open letter signed by Ms Qureshi and others said: “We, the undersigned colleagues, friends, supporters and allies of Sangita Myska are writing to express our deep concern at her sudden disappearance from LBC.”
It added: “The unexplained disappearance for weeks of a high profile, popular journalist from LBC’s schedule, the only Asian presenter in a regular slot, shocked, upset and confused her peers and thousands of listeners across the UK, whose strength of feeling is palpable.
ALSO READ: Bolton MP quits Labour frontbench over vote for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza
ALSO READ: Bolton town centre Gaza Vigil calling for ceasefire
ALSO READ: MP calls for an end to 'playing words like a game of scrabble' over Gaza
“The abrupt nature of Sangita’s departure, and the absence of an explanation, has been interpreted by many as the station’s complete disregard for industry standards relating to diversity, transparency and attributing value to its audiences, and concern that excellent journalists are at risk for simply doing their job and asking robust questions.”
The letter states that Ms Myska, who attended a state school and received a grant to attend university, means she represents the everyday person in a media landscape “dominated by those with immense privilege.”
The letter said: “We stand in solidarity with Sangita Myska and look forward to the return of her valued journalism.”
One of the letter’s co-authors, journalist Dhruti Shah, said: “Sangita Myska is a journalist who has paved the way for many others in our field.
“Her journalism has been of the highest integrity and we look forward to the return of it. Our open letter is intended to show that Sangita has our support.
“The fact that more than 100 people have stepped up across a wide range of industries to sign shows the strength of feeling.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article