US official makes "unacceptable" comments, MEA protests

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Government today lodged a strongprotest with the US Embassy here over certain "unacceptable"comments by an American official on tagging of Indian studentsin California.

US Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Lu expressed regretsover the comments by Juliet Wur, Public Affairs Officer at theUS Consulate in Hyderabad, when Jawed Ashraf, Joint Secretary(Americas) in the External Affairs Ministry, called him,sources said.

Wur had earlier in the day told reporters in Hyderabadthat tagging was a "hip and happening" thing and wondered whyIndians were agitated over it.

"Those anklets are used when you have somebody who mightflee. And so you give them the choice -- would you go to theprison or would you like an anklet. The anklets are very hipand happening. Many of our movie stars choose the anklets thansitting in a suit in a prison," Wur said.

Soon after her comments appeared on TV channels, Ashrafcalled Lu and told him that the comments were in bad taste and"unacceptable", the sources said.

Lu, in turn, expressed regrets over such comments and saidshe has been asked to publicly apologise, the sources said.