NRI defends Prince Charles' anti-racist credentials

London, Jan 14 (PTI) An Indian origin member of a
private polo club has defended the anti-racism credentials of
Prince Charles, within days of Prince Harry tendering an
apology for calling a fellow soldier a 'Paki'.

Prince Charles reportedly called Kuldip Dhillon, a
fellow member of the Cirencester Park Polo Club in
Gloucestershire, a 'sooty'.

Dhillon, however, said several of his friends called him
a 'sooty' which, he said, was a term of affection. Prince
Charles, he added, had 'zero prejudice'.

Prince Charles' office refused to comment on the polo
club story but said suggesting Charles was racist was
"completely ridiculous".

Dhillon, a former chairman of the Schools and
Universities Polo Association, is originally from Punjab and
emigrated to Britain in 1955.

In a statement issued from his Cheltenham office, he
said, "I enjoy being called Sooty by my friends who I am sure
universally use the name as a term of affection with no
offence meant or felt.

"The Prince of Wales is a man of zero prejudice and
both his sons have always been most respectful."

A Mumbai-born leading businessman Gulam Noon said there
was no suggestion the prince had done anything wrong.
"Political correctness has gone a little bit too far," he told
the BBC.

"I have been working with Prince Charles for more than 20
years now and he has always been absolutely courteous and
respectful to every Asian community member he has ever met,"
he added. PTI CORR
AM