Racist remarks row: US envoy decides to leave Chennai posting!

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Express News Service, The New Indian Express / Posted on Aug 26, 2011 at 01:08pm IST.

Chennai: US Vice Consul Maureen Chao, who was caught in a row for her remarks of "dirty and dark" Tamilians, has decided to leave her posting in Chennai. "Ms Chao decided herself to leave her posting in Chennai in the near future", a US Consulate spokesperson said in Chennai on Friday without elaborating.

In a speech at the SRM University here on August 12, Chao had recalled her train journey some 20 years ago in India and 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."

Her controversial remarks had created uproar with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa demanding an apology from the diplomat, saying it smacked of racism and an affront to all Tamils.

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US diplomat in row over remarks on Tamilians!

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zeenews.india.com / Last Updated: Saturday, August 13, 2011, 13:53.

Chennai: A US diplomat was caught in a row after her remarks of "dirty and dark" Tamilians, prompting the American Consulate here to term them as "inappropriate". 

"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," US Vice-Consul Maureen Chao said, going down the memory lane two decades ago when she was a student. 

In a speech at the SRM University on Friday, Chao also said, "Some 20 years ago, I was a student like you and had an opportunity to do a semester abroad. I chose to come to India, fascinated by the culture and religion. I travelled across villages to understand the culture better. I was amazed at the graciousness and friendliness of the people." 

Going into a damage-control mode following her controversial remarks, the US Consulate here 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 in a release that the diplomat was describing "positive memories from her own study abroad experiences in India 23 years ago". 

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