‘Comments against Sheila Dikshit should be condemned by every human being’: NZ envoy
October 7th, 2010 - 2:34 pm ICT by ANI
By Naveen Kapoor
New Delhi, Oct 7 (ANI): India has taken the issue of racial slurs made by a TVNZ breakfast show host Paul Henry against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit very seriously, and summoned New Zealand High Commissioner Rupert Holborrow in this regard.
Taking the matter seriously, Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna said that the remarks against the Delhi CM were totally unacceptable.
Sources said that the Minister of External Affairs asked Secretary (East) Latha Reddy to issue the démarche to the New Zealand High Commissioner in India.
High Commissioner Rupert Holborrow on Thursday met officials of the Minister of External Affairs and apologized for the comments made by the anchor.
“The envoy apologized for the comments made by the anchor against Sheila Dikhsit, and said it should be condemned by every human being,” sources said.
The New Zealand High Commissioner assured that strict action would be taken against the broadcaster, and also said that he would personally apologise to Sheila Dikshit, sources said
The racial comments made by Henry sparked a record number of complaints to TVNZ and drew criticism from the Race Relations Commissioner, politicians, ethnic and community organisations and thousands of people.
Henry was suspended for two weeks after asking New Zealand Prime Minister John Key if Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand was “even a New Zealander” and whether the next Governor-General would look and sound like a New Zealander.
Complaints have also been received about another recent Breakfast episode where Henry used racial slurs against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
The Video Extras section of TVNZ’s website promoted the Dikshit clip, which now appears to have been removed, under the heading “Paul Henry laughs about the name Dikshit”.
“The dip sh*t woman. God, what’s her name? Dick S**t. Is it Dick S**t … it looks like ‘Dick S**t’. It’s so appropriate, because she’s Indian, so she’d be dick-in-shit wouldn’t she, do you know what I mean? Walking along the street … it’s just so funny,” Henry said. (ANI)
- Complaints flood in following Kiwi anchor's racial slurs against Indians, Dikshit - Oct 07, 2010
- Henry's resignation has closed "sad and regrettable" episode: Kiwi PM - Oct 11, 2010
- Kiwi TV presenter Henry resigns for making racial slur against Sheila Dikshit - Oct 10, 2010
- New Zealand TV host criticised for ridiculing Sheila Dikshit - Oct 06, 2010
- New Zealand TV host suspended for mispronouncing Delhi's CM name as 'Dick-shit' - Oct 06, 2010
- Zealand PM to continue to front 'Indian racial-slur-hit' TVNZ's Breakfast show - Oct 10, 2010
- TV presenter's 'racist' remarks on Sheila Dikshit have embarrassed New Zealand: PM - Oct 09, 2010
- New Zealand TV anchor's future uncertain after 'racial slur' - Oct 09, 2010
- NZ TV host's 'India-racism-slur' could affect FTA between two nations: Kiwi diplomat - Oct 11, 2010
- Sheila Dikshit slur to cost New Zealand TV show dear - Oct 08, 2010
- TV anchor's slur on Dikshit unfortunate, says Hooper - Oct 08, 2010
- TVNZ apologises to Kiwi-Indian Gov Gen for Henry's racial slurs against him - Oct 14, 2010
- New Zealand TV anchor quits over Dikshit row - Oct 10, 2010
- No 'govt pressure' behind 'India-racism-slur' TV host's 'resignation', says Kiwi PM - Oct 11, 2010
- 'Talented' Kiwis eying 'India-race-slur' TV host Henry's post - Oct 12, 2010
Tags: anand satyanand, breakfast show, chief minister, community organisations, delhi cm, india high commissioner, john key, latha, minister of external affairs, naveen, new zealand high commissioner, new zealander, paul henry, prime minister john, racial comments, racial slurs, sheila dikshit, strict action, tvnz, woman god