A show based entirely on stereotypes, and no one was laughing as Apu because he is Indian. He's a foreigner so he sounds different. Same everywhere else - I never heard Mexicans complain about the Bumblebee man.
Apart from an accent that's supposed to stand out, there isn't a more positively portrayed person on that show. Hardest working by far, uniquely qualified and underutilized, dedicated family man (erred in cheating once), loves his own culture, but is fiercely patriotic... What more do you want?