CHENNAI: Strongly condemning the anti-Tamil remark that smacked of racism made by Maureen Chao, a Vice Consul in the US Consulate in Chennai, while speaking at a programme in SRM University on Friday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday demanded an apology from the official.The CM, in her letter to Jennifer Mclntyre, Consul General, Consulate General of United States of America, said “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. I would like to request you to impress upon Ms. Maureen Chao that she has to withdraw this remark and also apologize for having made such a comment on the Tamils.”It has been reported that Chao, while speaking at the Semester Abroad Programme orientation in SRM University, said, “I was on a 24-hour train trip from Delhi to Orissa. But, after 72 hours, the train still didn’t reach the destination .… and my skin became dirty and dark, like the Tamilians.”Meanwhile, a statement issued from the US consulate here said “yesterday at a Study Abroad Orientation Programme at SRM University, Vice Consul Maureen Chao gave a speech describing positive memories from her own study abroad experiences in India 23 years ago. During the speech Ms. Chao made an inappropriate comment. Ms. Chao deeply regrets it if her unfortunate remarks offended anyone, as that was certainly not her intent.”“As Secretary Clinton recently noted, the U.S.-India partnership is based on our shared values of democracy, liberty, and respect for religious and cultural diversity. The U.S. Consulate in Chennai and the U.S. Mission in India are committed to upholding these shared values”, the statement added.
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