A day after India termed the US state department’s statement on the way the Union government handled protests as “needless”, US Vice-Consul Maureen Chao sparked another row, saying her skin turned dirty and dark, akin to Tamilians, while travelling in India.
Realising Chao’s comment was not appreciated, the American Consulate termed it “inappropriate”.
“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,” Chao said, while talking about her visit to India as a student two decades ago.
Addressing a gathering at the SRM University on Friday, Chao had said, “Some 20 years ago, I was a student like you, and had an opportunity to do a semester abroad. I chose to come to India, fascinated by the culture and religion. I travelled across villages to understand the culture better. I was amazed at the graciousness and friendliness of the people.”
To make amends on the controversial remarks, the US Consulate in Chennai said, “During the speech, Maureen Chao made an inappropriate comment. If her unfortunate remarks offended anyone, Maureen Chao deeply regrets it, as that was certainly not her intent.”
The US Consulate issued a release that the diplomat was describing, “positive memories from her own experiences in India 23 years ago.” As US Secretary Hillary Clinton recently noted, the US-India partnership was based on shared values of democracy, liberty and respect for religious and cultural diversity, the Consulate release said. “The US Consulate in Chennai and the US Mission in India are committed to upholding these shared values,” the release said.
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Meanwhile, during the daily briefings of the US State Department in Washington, a questioner asked what the US would do about India’s police brutality against peaceful protestors. “Madam, I have asked this question before. On a daily basis there are demonstrations going on in India and police brutality against the people peaceful demonstrating against corruption, against the corrupt Indian politicians. Are you worried about that,” asked a questioner.
Spokesperson Victoria Nuland was blunt in her reply and said, “As you know, we support the right to peaceful, non-violent protest around the world. India is a democracy, and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protests.”