Dutch diplomat under fire for vilifying Delhi

Published
0

NEW DELHI, Sept 22: A top Dutch diplomat in New Delhi has come under fire from the Indian foreign ministry after he reportedly labelled the capital as ‘miserable’ and a ‘garbage dump’, a newspaper said on Friday.

Arnold Parzer, agriculture counsellor at the Royal Netherlands Embassy, also reportedly told the Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad that New Delhi residents were a ‘darn nuisance”, the Hindustan Times reported.

“Anything that can go wrong, does go wrong; everyone interferes with everyone else; the people are a darn nuisance; the climate is hell; the city is a garbage dump,” Parzer reportedly told the daily.

“New Delhi is the most miserable place I have ever lived in,” the diplomat was quoted as saying.

The Hindustan Times said India’s foreign ministry had summoned Dutch ambassador Eric Neihe, who in turn had “taken the officer to task”.

The Dutch embassy declined to confirm if New Delhi had expressed its displeasure over the incident.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Climate challenges
Updated 13 Nov, 2026

Climate challenges

Pakistan cannot afford to confront its climate crises one disaster, one season and one international summit at a time.
Under fire
Updated 13 Nov, 2026

Under fire

KP police are increasingly vulnerable as they play a frontline role in ongoing operations against terrorists.
Used car imports
13 Nov, 2026

Used car imports

THE government’s effort to restrict used car imports appears to be faltering. So suggest the numbers. Despite...
Iran status quo
Updated 12 Nov, 2026

Iran status quo

The US cannot hold the world hostage in order to find an honourable exit from a disastrous war for which it has only itself — and Israel — to blame.
Unspent funds
12 Nov, 2026

Unspent funds

THE slow pace of development spending shows how public investment continues to bear the brunt of efforts to create a...
Homes and hope
12 Nov, 2026

Homes and hope

THE completion of more than one million homes for families displaced by the 2022 floods is a moment worth...