Text size:
New Delhi: TV host Raghav Juyal has drawn widespread criticism for his alleged racist comments directed at an Assamese child on a dance reality show. Leading the sentencing, Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the comments “totally unacceptable”, even as Juyal sought to defend himself, saying a specific section was taken “out of context “.
Controversy erupted after a clip from the ‘Dance Deewane’ TV show on Color TV, has gone viral on social media. ThePrint could not determine when the episode aired.
In the viral clip, Juyal can be seen gushing about gibberish, supposedly supposed to be the Chinese language, before introducing Assamese dance competitor Gunjan Sinha, six. The gibberish comments included words and phrases like “momo” and “ching chong”.
The show’s judges, actor Madhuri Dixit and choreographer Remo D’Souza, and the audience were seen laughing.
The comments sparked condemnations and calls for action against the TV presenter. On Tuesday, the Assamese CM said racism “has no place in our country†as he highlighted the incident. Several others also criticized Juyal.
I hope @assampolice take swift action against @TheRaghav_Juyal for calling this Assamese kid “Chineseâ€. Completely racistpic.twitter.com/gwaNgkK56o
– Monica (@TrulyMonica) November 15, 2021
This is unacceptable! Assamese are Indian, not Chinese, so it’s best to call them correctly.@TheRaghav_Juyal it will put you in jail if Gunjan or his family bring a complaint against you.
– Divya Gandotra Tandon (@divya_gandotra) November 15, 2021
Retired IPS officer LT Bishnoi even asked Assam police to look into the case.
HQ Cyber ​​Cell Team @assampolice please take a look! Total ignorance on the part of those involved! https://t.co/1j2PdyZeDS
– Dr LR Bishnoi, IPS (@lrbishnoiassam) November 15, 2021
A third-rate comedian – making an insensitive audience laugh! So these people justify us and ask us why we don’t feel like we are part of the mainstream in India? https://t.co/uFT18YookU
– Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) November 16, 2021
Read also : Congress leader calling BJP “wild poachers” from northeast, no political jibe, it’s pure racism
Juyal apologizes, people call him “gas lighting”
On Monday, Juyal apologized on his Instagram account, saying that a specific section of the episode was taken “out of context.” He said the “gibberish” was a common joke with Sinha as she had previously claimed to speak “Chinese”.
“I’m so sorry if someone’s feelings have been hurt. It wasn’t my or Colors the pattern of the chain to do so. Before showing a single selective clip from the show, I would like you to watch all of the episodes to understand the context, â€he said.
“People need to see all the episodes. This is a joke that we play with Gunjan because when asked what her special talent was, she said she could speak Chinese, mostly gibberish, so I had conversations with her in several gibberish. times in the past, â€he says.
He added that many of his close friends and family are in different parts of the northeast and that he is not a racist.
Former National Student Union of India leader Angellica Aribam said the “apologies” were essentially “gazlighting,” and Juyal sought to justify her remarks by saying he had friends in the community. northeast.
I just watched the apology posted by @TheRaghav_Juyal. He enlightens the girl, says he’s not racist with the classic – I have family and friends in the NE. He also tried to justify it by saying that they had done it throughout the series. Seriously, @ColorsTV??? https: //t.co/kZAAQsTEx7
– Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) November 15, 2021
The controversial comments come against the backdrop of a wave of attacks against people in the Northeast, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic over its alleged Chinese origin. Several people complained that they had been abused with insults like “corona”, “chinky”, etc. Last year, a student from the University of Delhi was also spat out and called coronavirus.
Read also : Crook, TRP hunter, idiot, clown: how an Indian journalist went from hero to zero for Bollywood
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Telegram
Why the news media is in crisis and how to fix it
India needs free, fair, uninhibited and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.
But the news media are in a crisis of their own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, giving in to crass spectacle in prime time.
ThePrint employs the best young reporters, columnists and editors. To maintain journalism of this quality, it takes smart, thoughtful people like you to pay the price. Whether you live in India or abroad, you can do it here.
Support our journalism
