Ukraine apologizes for Kali tweet, says country respects Indian culture
Mangalore Today News Network
Kyiv, May 02, 2023: Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Tuesday issued an apology after the country’s ministry of defence tweeted a picture of Goddess Kali. Emine Dzhaparova said Ukraine "regrets" the defence ministry’s depiction of goddess Kali in a "distorted manner" and that the European country "respects unique Indian culture and highly appreciates support from India".
The Ukraine defence ministry’s tweet, which has now been deleted, was captioned "Work of art" with an image of Goddess Kali superimposed over a blast fume.
The tweet caused a massive outrage as netizens across India demanded an apology and said the picture insulted Hindu sentiments.
We regret @DefenceU depicting #Hindu goddess #Kali in distorted manner. #Ukraine &its people respect unique #Indian culture&highly appreciate🇮🇳support.The depiction has already been removed.🇺🇦is determined to further increase cooperation in spirit of mutual respect&💪friendship.
— Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) May 1, 2023
Many had slammed the Ukraine government, saying it is insulting a goddess widely worshipped in the country after seeking help from India. The defence ministry’s tweet had come just days after Emine Dzhaparova visited India. She was the first high-ranking Ukrainian official to visit India ever since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February, 2022.
Emine had met Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi and handed her a letter from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India’s intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Courtesy: India Today