India summoned the New Zealand high commissioner on Thursday to lodge a strong protest against the racist remarks made by a TV presenter about Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. It asked the NZ government to take immediate demonstrative action against the individual.
For his part, Mr Rupert Holborow, the New Zealand envoy, conveyed his government’s regret to New Delhi over the “inappropriate and vulgar” remarks by the TV presenter, Paul Henry. Henry, who had earlier made a racial slur against the Indian-origin governor-general of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, for which he was already suspended, had deliberately twisted Ms Dikshit’s name to make fun of her.