Melbourne, October 10
A controversial New Zealand TV host, who mocked and mispronounced Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s name prompting India to lodge a diplomatic protest, today resigned, acknowledging that he had “crossed the line”.

“I am astonished and dismayed that my comments have created a diplomatic incident. My style is conversational and of course unscripted. I walk the finest of lines and accept that I have inadvertently crossed it from time to time,” Paul Henry, already under suspension over a race row involving Indian-origin Governor General Anand Satyanand, said.

In a statement, Henry, who presented ‘Breakfast’ show on TVNZ, said it was “no longer practical” for him to do his job and he did not want to be used as a “lightning rod for racial disharmony”. “I have apologised twice, and have meant every word. I again apologise to all those who were genuinely hurt”.— PTI 
n Another slur by Kiwis P13