Actor and television presenter Raghav Juyal has been accused of perpetuating racism on Dance Deewane 3, a dance reality show after a video clip of him making a ‘Chinese’ jibe about a Guwahati girl went viral on social media.
Before introducing Gunjan Singh from Assam on the stage, Raghav Juyal tried to evoke laughter by making inane remarks which he claimed to be Chinese.
As judges on the stage, Remo D’Souza, Madhuri Dixit and others questioned the host what he was speaking, Raghav said they won’t understand it.
To introduce Gunjan Singh, he said her ‘Chinese’ might be incomprehensible but her dance is understood by everyone.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has condemned the use of “racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati”.
He termed the act as “shameful and totally unacceptable”.
“It has come to my notice that a popular reality show host has used racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati. This is shameful and totally unacceptable. Racism has no place in our country and we should all condem it unequivocally,” chief minister Sarma tweeted.
It has come to my notice that a popular reality show host has used racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati. This is shameful and totally unacceptable. Racism has no place in our country and we should all condem it unequivocally.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 16, 2021
Assam’s renowned cricketer Riyan Parag tweeted: “Assam is very much in India as any other state. No hate to this man but these comparisons need to stop. Jai Hind. Joi Axom.”
Assam is very much in India as any other state. No hate to this man but these comparisons need to stop. Jai Hind. Joi Axom. ?? https://t.co/pbgZRp2kCb
— Riyan Parag (@ParagRiyan) November 15, 2021
Raghav Juyal’s act on the reality show Dance Deewane 3 has been condemned by all sections of the people.
Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh (BGYP) national general secretary Ramesh Bastola tweeted: “@TheRaghav_Juyal, @ColorsTV @remodsouza and group are mocking, laughing at 6 year old Assamese girl with Chinese accent and calling her Chinese on national TV. This is a blatant racism toward the people of Northeast India.”
@TheRaghav_Juyal , @ColorsTV @remodsouza and group are mocking, laughing at 6 year old Assamese girl with Chinese accent and calling her Chinese on national TV. This is a blatant racism toward the people of Northeast India. pic.twitter.com/YUMMAEPIh2
— Bastola Ramesh (@imbastola) November 16, 2021
In one episode, Juyal was seen making remarks involving Momos and Chow Mein before introducing contestant Gunjan Singh from Assam.
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While condemning Raghav’s remarks, Ron Bikash Gaurav, co-founder, The Design Creed, tweeted, “Racism! @TheRaghav_Juyal introducing Gunjan Sinha of Assam in #DanceDeewane3 of @ColorsTV with “Momo”, “Chinese” and celebs like @remodsouza, @MadhuriDixit have no objection in it. People of Assam is not Chinese, yet such shows always do racism comments. When will it stop?”
Racism!@TheRaghav_Juyal introducing Gunjan Sinha of Assam in #DanceDeewane3 of @ColorsTV with "Momo", "Chinese" and celebs like @remodsouza, @MadhuriDixit have no objection in it.
— Ron Bikash Gaurav (@RonBikashGaurav) November 15, 2021
People of Assam is not Chinese, yet such shows always do racism comments.
When will it stop? pic.twitter.com/cOTA8s8nvy
After the clip went viral, Raghav Juyal has issued a statement where he said it was not racism on his part but something that the child had said earlier that led to the “joke”.
He said once the girl had said she could speak in Chinese, which turned out to be gibberish, and since then, it had become an ongoing joke on the show.
The host said in previous episodes, it could be seen that it was a running joke which was inspired by the girl’s innocent comment about being able to speak Chinese and had nothing to do with racism.