India issues demarche to NZ for racial remark

New Delhi: India on Thursday lodged a strong complaint with the New Zealand government for a Kiwi TV show in which the host allegedly made racist remarks against New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
According reports here, the New Zealand High Commissioner to India has apologized and called the TV show comments culturally insensitive and vulgar.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the remarks on the show were "totally unacceptable".
Later the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement and also summoned the Kiwi envoy in New Delhi to lodge its protest.
It said the High Commissioner of New Zealand was called in to the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong demarche was issued to him on this matter.
"It was conveyed to him that the Government strongly and unequivocally denounces the racist remarks of the journalist in question," the statement said.
"It is shocking that such bigoted views have been aired by representative of a mainstream media organization of a multiethnic democracy like New Zealand. These remarks are totally unacceptable to India and should be condemned by all right thinking people and nations," it said.
India said it hoped that New Zealand government would take immediate demonstrative action against the said individual to send out a clear signal that such behavior is totally unacceptable.
"The High Commissioner of New Zealand conveyed the 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.
"He also acknowledged the vital contribution of the Hon’ble Chief Minister to the Commonwealth Games," the statement said.
The Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand had also suitably taken up this matter with the Government of New Zealand, it added.
TV anchor Paul Henry of TVNZ (TV New Zealand) reportedly ridiculed on his show how the name of Dikshit should be pronounced and he allegedly made derogatory remarks against Indians.
TVNZ is New Zealand's biggest free-to-air broadcaster and is also the nation's television public broadcaster.
Henry has been suspended earlier for another racist misdemeanor in which he attacked New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, who is of Indian origin.
TVNZ issued apologies and said the offensive footage on Sheila Dikshit has been removed from their website.
Earlier, New Zealand Herald reported Kiwi Prime Minister John Key saying that broadcaster Paul Henry's television bosses need to take some blame for his racist comments, as they condone his controversial behaviour.
Speaking on radio, Key said "there was no question Henry's comments were inappropriate, but it was not all his fault."
He added "to a certain degree, though, he's encouraged by Television New Zealand, so it's not all fault on Paul's side".
TVNZ's news and current affairs manager Andi Brotherston also apologised for the comments of the host.
"I have made an horrendous error of judgement and I want to apologise for the offence I have caused to you personally and the embarrassment I have caused to you as employees of TVNZ," Brotherston said.
"By way of background, I viewed the comments Paul Henry made online after being asked by NZPA for a comment for their afternoon papers deadline. In my haste I didn't reflect upon the wider aspects of what he said, I just focused on the question he asked John Key and emailed a quote to NZPA.
"This is not an excuse it is just by way of background, my comments were wrong and I take total responsibility for my mistake," Brotherston said in the apology note.
Also read: Indians feel let down
He's had breakfast -- now put him to pasture
New Delhi: India on Thursday lodged a strong complaint with the New Zealand government for a Kiwi TV show in which the host allegedly made racist remarks against New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.According reports here, the New Zealand High Commissioner to India has apologized and called the...
New Delhi: India on Thursday lodged a strong complaint with the New Zealand government for a Kiwi TV show in which the host allegedly made racist remarks against New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
According reports here, the New Zealand High Commissioner to India has apologized and called the TV show comments culturally insensitive and vulgar.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the remarks on the show were "totally unacceptable".
Later the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement and also summoned the Kiwi envoy in New Delhi to lodge its protest.
It said the High Commissioner of New Zealand was called in to the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong demarche was issued to him on this matter.
"It was conveyed to him that the Government strongly and unequivocally denounces the racist remarks of the journalist in question," the statement said.
"It is shocking that such bigoted views have been aired by representative of a mainstream media organization of a multiethnic democracy like New Zealand. These remarks are totally unacceptable to India and should be condemned by all right thinking people and nations," it said.
India said it hoped that New Zealand government would take immediate demonstrative action against the said individual to send out a clear signal that such behavior is totally unacceptable.
"The High Commissioner of New Zealand conveyed the 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.
"He also acknowledged the vital contribution of the Hon’ble Chief Minister to the Commonwealth Games," the statement said.
The Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand had also suitably taken up this matter with the Government of New Zealand, it added.
TV anchor Paul Henry of TVNZ (TV New Zealand) reportedly ridiculed on his show how the name of Dikshit should be pronounced and he allegedly made derogatory remarks against Indians.
TVNZ is New Zealand's biggest free-to-air broadcaster and is also the nation's television public broadcaster.
Henry has been suspended earlier for another racist misdemeanor in which he attacked New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, who is of Indian origin.
TVNZ issued apologies and said the offensive footage on Sheila Dikshit has been removed from their website.
Earlier, New Zealand Herald reported Kiwi Prime Minister John Key saying that broadcaster Paul Henry's television bosses need to take some blame for his racist comments, as they condone his controversial behaviour.
Speaking on radio, Key said "there was no question Henry's comments were inappropriate, but it was not all his fault."
He added "to a certain degree, though, he's encouraged by Television New Zealand, so it's not all fault on Paul's side".
TVNZ's news and current affairs manager Andi Brotherston also apologised for the comments of the host.
"I have made an horrendous error of judgement and I want to apologise for the offence I have caused to you personally and the embarrassment I have caused to you as employees of TVNZ," Brotherston said.
"By way of background, I viewed the comments Paul Henry made online after being asked by NZPA for a comment for their afternoon papers deadline. In my haste I didn't reflect upon the wider aspects of what he said, I just focused on the question he asked John Key and emailed a quote to NZPA.
"This is not an excuse it is just by way of background, my comments were wrong and I take total responsibility for my mistake," Brotherston said in the apology note.
Also read: Indians feel let down
He's had breakfast -- now put him to pasture
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