New Delhi: Indian television host and former army officer, Major Gaurav Arya (Retd), ignited a brief diplomatic spat between India and Iran Saturday after his offensive remark, on air, about Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went viral across social media.
During a broadcast of his programme Chanakya Dialogue, Arya called Araghchi a “son of a pig” while criticising his decision to visit Pakistan before arriving in India for diplomatic talks following the Pahalgam terror attack. Arya, who also displayed the word “pig” on-screen alongside a headline about the minister’s visit, questioned Iran’s neutrality, accusing Araghchi of siding with Pakistan.
The comments quickly circulated online, sparking outrage and prompting a formal response from the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi. In a pointed statement, the embassy wrote: “Respect for guests has a long-standing tradition in Iranian culture. We Iranians consider our guests to be ‘beloved by God’. How about you?”
In a separate post on X, the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi wrote, “There is a Hindu temple in Bandar Abbas.”
The Indian Embassy in Tehran responded swiftly, distancing the government from Arya’s remarks. “The person in this video is a private Indian citizen. His comments do not reflect the official position of the Indian government, which finds the disrespectful language used in the video inappropriate,” the embassy clarified.
Arya, who has nearly 2 million followers on X and over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, refused to apologise. He wrote, “I am not a Pakistani that my government will take action against me for speaking out, specially when it is the TRUTH. If Iran’s foreign minister has any problem, he can discuss it with Gen Asim Munir.”
Araghchi’s visit to India on 8 May included meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He also visited Pakistan on 5 May and had then urged both countries “to exercise restraint”.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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Arya is a big blot on defence service officers. A short service officer who dint have capability to get permanent commission/ full time service and was accordingly discharged on completing his short service tenure, has become a defence expert.This ex officer must not have done any command,not even a company as he dint meet QR for command as he left with some six years of service. He wont have done any worthwhile training courses too but he is a defence expert. Indian Army should apprise all channels about his credentials and stop this loud mouth from degrading OGs and defence officers.
Shameful comments on Iranian Diplomat by this person.He has Insulted country too.