'Comments against Sheila Dikshit should be condemned by every human being': NZ envoy

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 Krishna 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. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)