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New Zealand minister sparks outrage with butter chicken tsunami remark on India FTA
International
Published on 2 May 2026
A casual food line triggered accusations of racism
New Zealand’s oceans and fisheries minister Shane Jones has ignited controversy over remarks about a proposed India free trade agreement. He suggested it could bring migrants and a “tsunami of butter chicken,” a line that drew sharp criticism from India’s community and lawmakers, who said it was racist. The comments have put the FTA debate back in focus, alongside questions of tone and cultural respect.
- Shane Jones linked an India FTA to a “tsunami of butter chicken”
- Indian lawmakers and community members called the remark racist
- The comment has intensified scrutiny of New Zealand’s trade diplomacy
- Debate continues over tone as FTA talks move ahead
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times