TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday apologised for using the word “negro” in one of the replies tabled on the floor of the House on August 20, which had evoked strong reaction.
“Negro has two meanings. One is a River, and second is derogatory. For that purpose, if someone is hurt I apologise for that,” Parrikar told the House Thursday afternoon.
Parrikar blamed the clerk in the Police department for the mistake in the reply. “Clerks in police department don’t understand how serious the word is,” Parrikar said.
In his written reply tabled in the House, Parrikar had referred to an African national arrested at Calangute village on May 8, this year, as “unknown African negro”. He sought to replace the word “unknown African Negro” with “unknown person with dark complexion.”
The government’s reply had evoked strong reactions. Congress had said that such an instance sends negative signals to the international tourists.
