India will be taking up the issue of popular US television host Jay Leno's remarks about Amritsar's Golden Temple with the US authorities and observed that most of the late night shows in America are ‘flippant’.
"The late night talk shows are flippant most of the time in the US," External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said.
He, however, said talk show hosts should be ‘extremely sensitive to the sensitivities of religious group’ within their country and outside.
Leno, the host of the popular ‘The Tonight Show’ on NBC channel, flashed a picture of the Golden Temple on his programme and termed it as a possible summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Krishna said the ministry will ask the Indian Ambassador to the US to take up the issue with the authorities. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, who is currently in the US, had on ‘objected’ to the remark.
"It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the...Golden Temple," Ravi told a group of Indian reporters.
"Golden Temple is Sikh community's most sacred place. Even our Prime Minister went there for praying in the New Year. I believe that the person who has shown is not that ignorant. The American government should also look at this kind of thing," the NRI Affairs Minister said.
"I wish this kind of thing is not shown by any media in the US," Ravi said, adding he has not seen the show personally and has heard about it from the Sikh community.