Buenos Aires:The Argentine TV news network Crnica has courted controversy and much criticism on social network after it showed a 'graphic' and an image of the Simpsons character Apu when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Buenos Aires for the G20 summit.
A section of social media users responded angrily to the use of the image saying such portrayal was disrespectful of Prime Minister and was 'racist'.
"As if this wasn't enough, #CronicaTV also decided that it would be hilarious to use the music from the song Ring Ring Ringa from the movie Slumdog Millionaire as background music for the arrival of Modi for the #G20," ran a missive in the micro blogging site.
A tweet from a local journalist Patrick Gillespie also said, "Argentine TV outlet @CronicaTV displays this racist image with the headline ?Apu Arrived? as India Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives in Buenos Aires for the #G20."Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Argentina for G20 Summit.
Apu is a character shown as an Indian shopkeeper from 'The Simpsons', the animated sitcom created by Matt Groening. The series depicts a satirical depiction of working-class life.
Apu is shown as character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon - whose portrayal even in the past has been marred by controversies. In fact, Modi's was not an isolated case.
"Upon the arrival of the Rwandan president Paul Kagame, Cr?nica TV said, ?There is no auction", says a report TV Newser.
However, local media reports also said that Cr?nica TV is known in Argentina for its "provocative, tabloid-like content".
On netizen Leandro Galeano says: "TV Channel Cronica TV is famous for mocking at everything and being as politically incorrect as possible. Of course, you can imagine the local target audience for this kind of stuff. The problem is, that they don't just make a joke and move on, they are very persistent".(UNI)