New Delhi: After massive social media outrage over the depiction of Hindu goddess Kali in a 'distorted' way by the Ukraine Ministry of Defence social media handle, the war-torn country's first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzheppar apologised to Indian netizens saying that Ukraine respects India's unique culture and its support in the Russia-Ukraine war.
"We regret @DefenceU depicting #Hindu goddess #Kali in distorted manner. #Ukraine &its people respect unique #Indian culture and highly appreciate support. The depiction has already been removed. Ukraine is determined to further increase cooperation in spirit of mutual respect and friendship," Emine Dzheppar tweeted.
-
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 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">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, 2023We 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
Also read: India as a global player is the Vishva Guru of the world, says Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister
The Twitter handle @DefenceU posted two images, one of a cloudy sky and the other showing a superimposed iconic pose of Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe which had a 'Kali' face with skulls garlanded around it. The hair, however, reflected that of Monroe. The pictures had the caption "Work of Art".
This triggered angry reactions from Indian Twitterati who accused the Ukrainian defence ministry of hurting Indian sentiments, especially Hindus. Some even harped to the time when Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dezapphar came to India last month apparently asking for aid. Dezapphar had then described India as a 'Vishwaguru'.
Some Twitter users had also asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene into the matter. "Please take note of this defamatory post that shows Maa Kali in a bad light, @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar," tweeted one user.
