Mumbai MP Gopal Shetty has come in for severe flak from various quarters for his controversial comment that Christians were “angrez’ (the British) and that they did not contribute to the Indian freedom struggle.
The remarks made by Shetty were part of a speech that had delivered at an Eid Milan function held at Malad in north Mumbai on Sunday last, the videos of the of the speech went viral since Thursday, prompting the Opposition leaders and Christian community members to slam him for his anti-minority community remarks.
Shetty had said: “Christians were ‘angrez’. Therefore, they didn’t join in the Indian freedom struggle. India was not freed by a Hindu or a Muslim. We fought as one for our Independence.” Coming down heavily on Shetty’s remarks, former CM and Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said: “ Shetty’s remarks reflect despicably communal mindset of the BJP. Freedom struggle is the epitome of sacrifices made by all communities including Christians. Shetty must know that RSS was the only organisation that supported the British.”
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam on Friday said: “ Shetty must tender an apology to the entire Christian community of India as he has no knowledge of history or the contribution of the Christians in the Independence movement”.
Meanwhile, activists of the All India Mahila Congress General Secretary and Janet Desouza and Mumbai Mahila Congress President Ajanta Yadav staged a protest outside Shetty’s office at Borivali (west) in north Mumbai.
Two Christian residents from Malad – Mavis Fernandes and Jerard lobo –made a written complaint against Shetty at the Malvani Police station, demanding action against the MP for promotion enmity between communities.
Malvani Congress legislator Aslam Shaikh said that though small in numbers, the Christian community contributed significantly to the freedom struggle and also in nation building “Such a discriminatory and provocative statement from a MP is most unfortunate,” he said.
As the controversy over remarks over his statement intensified, Shetty on Thursday appeared to renege on his remarks and said that the controversy had arisen out of “miscommunication and misinterpretation” “People from every religion contributed to the freedom struggle,” he said
Shetty said that he was a responsible person with a long political career behind him and would never think embarrassing the BJP top leadership.
Maharashtra’s BJP state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said on Friday that his party's top leaders and state BJP President Raosaheb Patil-Danve had spoken to Shetty and the party stood by him.