DD apologises to Malawi for crass remark

The national broadcaster Doordarshan has apologised unconditionally to the African nation Malawi after a commentator introduced the country as ranking among the 'world's least developed countries'.

The national broadcaster Doordarshan has apologised unconditionally to the African nation Malawi after a commentator introduced the country as ranking among the 'world's least developed countries'.

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The crass comment had prompted Malawi High Commissioner to India, Chrissie Chawanje Mughogho, to write to the Indian government expressing concern over the "derogatory" nature of remarks.

Director General of Doordarshan Aruna Sharma is said to have replied to the Malawi envoy offering an unconditional apology. Her letter also assured him that the remarks were inadvertent and carried no intent to slight the African nation.

Senior government sources said Doordarshan's internal inquiries in the matter showed that the commentator who used the derogatory phase while describing the history, culture, population and other information, had picked details taken from opinion pieces published in magazines, newspapers and other publications.

Sharma meanwhile has issued formal instructions for officials to verify all information so that there is no such repeat incident.