New Delhi: A video of Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, who praised the virtues of the British colonialism in India saying they ‘left behind civilisation’ and that independent India had failed at building anything as beautiful, has gone viral inviting criticism from netizens including Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and tennis star Martina Navratilova. The anchor was speaking on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" show last Thursday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Speaking on the show, the anchor claimed that India did not create any architectural marvels before the onset of the British colonial era and said British empire was "more than just genocide".
"Strong countries dominate weak countries. This trend hasn't changed. At least the English took their colonial responsibility seriously. They didn't just take things, they added. We (the United States) left Afghanistan, we left airstrips, weapons and guns. When the British pulled out of India, they left behind an entire civilization, a language, a legal system, schools, churches and public buildings, all of which are still in use today," said Carlson according to the video that has gone viral on Twitter.
Referring to Mumbai's Victoria Terminus station that was renamed in 2016 as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the anchor said, "And after 75 years of independence, has that country produced a single building as beautiful as the Bombay train station that the British colonials built?"
The comments elicited sharp reactions on Twitter. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted with two angry emojis,"I think Twitter ought to have an option for something to press when you can't respond without losing your cool. For now I will content myself with."
Tharoor, who remains a strong critic of the British colonisation of India, has written several books on it and has stated that the British owe India a reparation.