New Delhi: CPI on Saturday demanded the withdrawal
of US Vice-Consul in Chennai Maureen Chao for her "racist"
comments on Tamils and asked the government to lodge a
"strong protest" with the US in this regard.
Party National Secretary D Raja said the remarks of
"dirty and dark" Tamilians by US Vice-Consul Maureen Chao were
"uncalled for".
"The Indian Government should lodge a strong protest with
the US in this regard. The US should withdraw her from here,"
he said.
"The remarks show the racist nature of the official even
during Barack Obama's presidency. This cannot be tolerated,"
he said.
Addressing students at SRM university in Chennai
yesterday, Chao had said: "I was on a 24-hour train trip from
Delhi to Orissa. But, after 72 hours, the train still did not
reach the destination... and my skin became dirty and dark
like the Tamilians."
Going into a damage-control mode following her
controversial remarks, the US Consulate here said, "During the
speech Ms Chao made an inappropriate comment. Ms Chao deeply
regrets if her unfortunate remarks offended anyone, as that
was certainly not her intent".
The Consulate said in a release that the diplomat was
describing "positive memories from her own study abroad
experiences in India 23 years ago".
PTI
First Published: Saturday, August 13, 2011, 21:11