Chennai, Aug 13: A diplomat at the US consulate here Saturday expressed her deep regrets over her remark - "I became dirty and dark, like a Tamilian" - that has stirred a major controversy.
 Vice Consul of the US Consulate Maureen Chao made the remark at a function Friday at SRM University, around 40 km from here.
 The US Consulate has also termed her comment as inappropriate.
 However, students and officials of the university maintain there was nothing racial about the US official's remark.
 In a statement put up on its website, the US Consulate said: "Yesterday (Friday) at a Study Abroad Orientation Program 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 if her unfortunate remarks offended anyone, as that was certainly not her intent."
 Chao, while narrating her experience in India in 1989 when she came to the country on a semester programme, spoke about her 72-hour train journey from New Delhi to Orissa.
 She had the audience in splits while recalling her experience in exchanging her lower berth in the train compartment for an upper berth with a fellow passenger.
 Chao said when she came out of the train after the journey, her skin got dusty and dirty and, after a pause, added that "I became dirty and dark, like a Tamilian", landing herself into an avoidable controversy. IANS

Lastupdate on : Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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