Colors show sparks controversy; “Racist rhetoric,” says CM; “Clip out of context,” host Raghav Juyal

Raghav Juyal, the host of popular reality dance show Dance Deewane 3, has triggered widespread criticism for racially stereotyping a contestant from Guwahati, North East India. Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted with a note of condemnation in response. The host, however has clarified his comment through a video message on Instagram.

A clip of the show – Dance Dewaane Season 3 – has been doing the rounds on Social Media, where the host – Raghav Juyal can be seen introducing a contestant, Gunjan Sinha (6) Guwahati, Assam, by mocking and mimicking the accent of North Eastern Language and using racially targeted words like ‘momo’, ‘chowmien’. In the next move, the host tried to make fun of her height. The juries of the show, comprising popular icons like Remo DSouza and Madhuri Dixit Nene among others, were seen to be laughing and applauding the acts.

The remark has sparked ire among netizens, especially from the North East. They are calling for legal action against the host.

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma also wrote on Twitter, “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 condemn it unequivocally.”

Host Raghav Juyal, whose Twitter bio self describes him as an Actor, Dancer, Entertainer, has tendered an apology on his Instagram. He said that the words were a reference to the contestant’s self-described skills of speaking in the Chinese language and speaking to Aliens.

Raghav Juyal tried to contextualize the viral clip with the progress of the show from the beginning, and said that “I am not racist, and have friends and families in the North East.” He also said that “I always take stands against injustice, I stand for the religious, caste and other types of injustice and I receive flake for this. I always try to present everything in a politically correct way but this short clip was taken out of context.”

Raghav Juyal also said, “I am so sorry if anyone’s sentiments have been hurt, this was not the intention of Colors TV, and I would like to request you all to watch all episodes.”