Ambassador Sen apologises for ‘headless chicken’ remark
Ambassador Sen apologises for ‘headless chicken’ remark
New Delhi: India’s Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen, in the eye of a storm over an interview, on 21 August apologised over his comments but said the remark “running round like headless chicken" concerned some of his media friends and not the MPs.
“My comment about running round like headless chicken looking for a comment here or a comment there was a tactless observation on some of my media friends and most certainly not with reference to any honourable MP," he said in a message read out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha.
Sen also made it clear that it was not his intention to cast aspersion on any individual or organisation. “However, if I have unwittingly hurt any sentiments, I offer my unqualified apologies," he said.
The envoy prefaced the remarks by saying that some of the comments attibuted to him in the “off-the-record" conversation were, however, made in his “personal capacity" and “do not reflect the positions of the government".
Sen’s clarification failed to pacify the agitating MPs, including those from supporting Left parties, the opposition BJP and some from the UPA, who together demanded his recall.
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