'Typical Indian', former Irish legislator comments on Irish Prime Minister, draws criticism

The Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is born to an Irish mother and an Indian father and was elected to the office in the year 2017.

Image shared by Leo Varadkar on Twitter

New Delhi: Former Cabinet minister in the Northern Ireland government , Lord Kilclooney is drawing widespread criticism on the micro-blogging site twitter for calling the Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, a “typical Indian” in a comment. The Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is born to an Irish mother and an Indian father and was elected to the office in the year 2017. His father's name was Ashok and he was born in Mumbai. The former MP who is at the centre of the controversy had commented “Typical Indian” on a BBC news story about PM Varadkar. The story was about a local MP criticisng Varadkar, on which Kilclooney had commented “Typical Indian”. Soon he was at the receiving end of critcisms for being “racist”. Although the thread was deleted later on after the controversy spiked up, Kilclooney however denied to admit that he was being racist in his tweet and refused to withdraw it.  He tweeted: “I am certainly no racist and in particular have an admiration for Indians.a member of the British/Indian APPG only yesterday I had a reply from 10 Downing St asking for a relaxation of visas for Indians. My point was that the PM had upset Unionists more than Irish PMs had!”

I am certainly no racist and in particular have an admiration for Indians.a member of the British/Indian APPG only yesterday I had a reply from 10 Downing St asking for a relaxation of visas for Indians. My point was that the PM had upset Unionists more than Irish PMs had!

— Lord John Kilclooney (@KilclooneyJohn) April 30, 2018

This is not the first time the ex- legislator has triggered controversy. As per reports, in November 2017, he had tweeted similar remarks for the PM. Another politician, Naomi Rachel Long slammed Kilclooney over his comment alleging it to be a “racial slur” which insults not only “Taoiseach and Irish but also Indian people”. As per reports she even urged the House of Lords to take an account of his conduct which was a deliberate calculated disrespect. Kilclooney, however, to prove his point tweeted: “It is not racially abusive as he himself has confirmed he is half Indian. That is great and not to be dismissed as the Indians are a great race. However he has damaged North/South relations by being continually offensive and provocative to the Unionist majority in N Ireland.”

It is not racially abusive as he himself has confirmed he is half Indian. That is great and not to be dismissed as the Indians are a great race. However he has damaged North/South relations by being continually offensive and provocative to the Unionist majority in NIreland.

— Lord John Kilclooney (@KilclooneyJohn) April 30, 2018