Jaya condemns US diplomat's remarks; demands apology

Chennai, Aug 13 (PTI) The south Indian state Tamil Nadu
Government Saturday condemned the remarks of 'dark and dirty'
Tamilians by a US diplomat with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
alleging it smacked of racism and an affront to all Tamilians.
Demanding an apology from US Vice-Consul Maureen Chao who
had remarked that her "skin became dirty and dark like the
Tamilians" after a 72-hour train trip, Jayalalithaa said
the remark was 'highly condemnable'
"This remark which smacks of racism is highly condemnable.
You will agree that this remark of the Vice Consul is an
affront to all Tamils," she said in a letter to Jennifer
McIntyre, Consul General, US Consulate, Chennai.
She urged McIntyre to impress upon Chao that she has to
withdraw this remark and also apologise for having made such a
comment on Tamils
During a speech at the the SRM University Friday, Chao
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".
Following her controversial remark, the US Consulate
termed it 'inappropriate.' In a release it 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 the diplomat was describing "positive
memories from her own study experiences in India 23 years
ago".