Krishna slams New Zealand talk show on Sheila remark

India on Thursday made its displeasure officially known to New Zealand on a Kiwi TV show in which the host allegedly made racist remarks against New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told NDTV that 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.

The envoy reportedly apologised for the TV remark, reports said.

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.