Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 7, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/288293/India-furious-over-NZ-anchors-Sheila-jibe-envoy-apologizes.html
Outraged over racial remarks against Delhi
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on New Zealand's prime news channel, India today
summoned its High Commissioner Rupert Holborow and issued a "strong"
demarche demanding "demonstrative action"' against the TV anchor.
On his part, Holborow conveyed deep regret
for the hurt caused by the comments of the media commentator which he characterized
as "culturally insensitive, inappropriate and vulgar and certainly not
the views of the Government of New Zealand", according to a foreign office
statement here.
The anchor Paul Henry, who had earlier made
a racial slur against Indian-origin Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Anand
Satyanand for which he was already suspended, had deliberately twisted Dikshit's
name to make fun of her.
Taking strong exception to this, External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna directed the ministry to convey India's unhappiness
over the "unacceptable remarks" of the anchor to Holborow.
According to sources, the High Commissioner
met Secretary East in Ministry of External Affairs Vijaya Latha Reddy, who
conveyed India's strong protest.
"It was conveyed to him (Holborow) that
the Government strongly and unequivocally denounces the racist remarks of
the journalist in question. It is shocking that such bigoted views have been
aired by representative of a mainstream media organization of a multiethnic
democracy like New Zealand," the statement said.
"These remarks are totally unacceptable
to India and should be condemned by all right thinking people and nations.
It is hoped that the Government of New Zealand would take immediate demonstrative
action against the said individual to send out a clear signal that such behavior
is totally unacceptable," it said.
Besides conveying the deep regret for the
hurt caused by the comments of the media commentator, Holborow also acknowledged
the vital contribution of the Delhi Chief Minister to the Commonwealth Games.
The Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand
had also suitably taken up this matter with the Government of New Zealand,
the statement said.