Minister Sudhakaran apologises to World Bank official for racist remark
In a letter written to World Bank senior infrastructure specialist Bernard Aritua, the Minister clarified that he didn' knew the American practice of avoiding the word and apologised.
Published: 07th July 2017 08:15 AM | Last Updated: 07th July 2017 08:15 AM | A+A A-
The Minister said he came to know only later that such a word was not used in the United States. (File | EPS)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After his racist slur aimed at a World Bank official snowballed into a major row, Kerala public works minister G Sudhakaran on Thursday wrote to the officer expressing "deep regret" and offered an apology.
"I never knew the American practice of avoiding such a word," Sudhakaran said in his letter to World Bank senior infrastructure specialist Bernard Aritua. "The word (negro) is used in Kerala assembly by some legislators without any animosity or contempt."
The Minister said he came to know later that such a word was not used in the United States.
After reviewing the progress of World Bank-aided Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) in Kasargod district on Monday, the Minister had used the word 'negro' while referring to the community the World Bank officer belongs to.
In his speech, Sudhakaran also asked the World Bank to desist from threats to withdraw its funding for KSTP. He also blamed the World Bank officials for the slow progress of the project.
