'Slanderous, criminal'

Some of the reactions to the derogatory comments against Delhi CM by a Kiwi TV presenter

Some of the reactions to the derogatory comments against Delhi CM by a Kiwi TV presenter

Not just the fans of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit but her political opponents too unequivocally condemned the racial remarks made against her by an anchor on a New Zealand news channel.

SOft Targetu00a0? New Zealand High Commissioner Rupert Holborow has
reportedly conveyed deep regret for the comments. FILE PIC

The Opposition BJP in the city, which has been trying to corner the chief minister for allegedly sidelining them during the conduct of the Commonwealth Games, came in solidarity with her on Thursday. Taking strong exceptions to the remarks against Dikshit, they demanded stern action against the presenter.

Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta said, "It's a criminal act. He should be punished for it."u00a0 However, Dikshit, herself remained unperturbed over the racial remarks made against her.

"I will not comment on it," she said, replying to repeated queries on the sidelines of a function in the city on Thursday afternoon.

The External Affairs Ministry took strong objection and summoned the New Zealand High Commissioner Rupert Holborow. On his part, Holborow reportedly conveyed deep regret for the hurt caused by the comments of the TV presenter.

Even Mayor Prithviraj Sawhney who was criticising Dikshit till yesterday for completely ignoring him at the opening ceremony of the Games stood firmly by her side on Thursday.

"It is shameful. The government of India should take up the matter with the New Zealand authorities," he said.u00a0
City Congress Chief JP Aggarwal said, "It is not a comment against an individual. This is humiliating for the whole nation."

Proclaimed Offender

According to reports, the TV anchor had deliberately twisted Dikshit's name to make fun of her. Paul Henry has been suspended after the channel was flooded by complaints against him after he repeatedly and deliberately mispronounced Dikshit's name.
Henry called the CM "Dick S''t" and said her name was "so appropriate because she is Indian," the reports said. The remarks were not accidental since Henry was repeatedly told her name was to be pronounced as "Dixit".
"The dip s''t woman. God, what's her name? Dick S''t .. it looks like Dick Sh't," Henry says in the clip which is still playing out on the channel's website. "Its so appropriate, because she's Indian, so she'd be dick-in-s''t wouldn't she, do you know what I mean? Walking along the street.. it's just so funny," he says on TV.
Earlier on a show, he asked New Zealand prime minister John Key whether the country's governor-general Anand Satyanand was a Kiwi? When he was told the man was indeed a Kiwi, Henry asked Key whether next time around he was going to choose someone for that office who looked more like a New Zealander.