Chandy seeks Vishwas's apology

In the wake of protests against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas’s racist comments against nurses from Kerala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday termed the remarks derogatory and unfitting for civilised  society.

 The chief minister, in a letter addressed to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, sought an apology from Vishwas over the remarks.

Chandy said the AAP leadership’s silence on the sexist and offensive comments by Vishwas against the nurses was unfortunate. “Nurses from Kerala are the pride of the state. They have been acclaimed all world over for their efficiency and quality of service. Humiliating them with such offensive comments does not befit a civilised society,” Chandy said in the letter.

Vishwas—in a YouTube clip reportedly recorded from a stage show in 2010—is seen as making racist comments against nurses from the state. With the video clip going viral on social networks, protests have commenced in Kerala. The AAP’s Kochi office was attacked by a group of men carrying Youth Congress flags on Monday.

Meanwhile, the AAP’s state leadership extended an apology to nurses from the state on behalf of the leader. The party’s state convenor Manoj Padmanabhan told reporters in Kochi that the central leadership had been apprised of the state unit’s concerns on the remarks.