Brand Sania faces hostile volleys
HYDERABAD: A nation-wide controversy has been stoked over a BJP leader of Telangana questioning the State government's decision to name tennis star Sania Mirza as the brand ambassador for the newly-carved out State.
As the comments made by BJP leader in the Assembly K Laxman received some support and much flak on social media platforms from politicos and others, senior saffron party leaders jumped to the defence of the tennis star, indirectly endorsing the decision of the Telangana government.
Sania Mirza herself was not too pleased. 'I am married to Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. But, I am an Indian who will remain an Indian until the end of my life,' she said in a statement released to media.
Laxman's remarks are being interpreted as one intended towards political consolidation in a city where Muslims constitute a significant chunk of the population, amidst a series of steps by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to woo the minorities, the latest being its decision to name Sania as the Telangana state ambassdor.
If Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao called Sania daughter of Telangana, Laxman choose to dub her as 'daughter-in-law' of Pakistan, who was born in Maharashtra and not in Hyderabad.
Apart from naming her the brand ambassador, KCR also presented her a cheque for Rs 1 crore to 'prepare well' for the upcoming US Open. But, the focus of the controversy was not so much about the monetary gift as on Sania's relationship with a Pakistan player.
Sania retorted in equal measure. First, she regretted that precious time of politicians and media was being wasted on such a petty issue instead of focusing the energies on more pressing problems.
And, then giving a personal touch to her birth, she recalled that her mother had to be taken to a Mumbai hospital since she was seriously unwell at that time. Within three weeks of her birth, she returned to Hyderabad.
The top leadership of the BJP also appeared none too pleased with the entire episode. Information Minister Prakash Javdekar apart, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad sought to distance the party from the controversy.
'Sania Mirza is a proud daughter of India and has brought glory to the country in the field of sports,' Prasad said. 'This is not BJP's position,'
Javadekar said. 'Sania Mirza is a pride of India. She is brand ambassador of India,' he said.
News Posted: 25 July, 2014
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