Why a Pakistani daughter-in-law, it's vote-bank politics: BJP MlA
Appointment of ace tennis player and India’s only woman grand slam player Sania Mirza’s appointment as “brand ambassador” of Telangana State by the Government and rewarding her with a grant of Rs 10 million, has run into a controversy with the Opposition BJP and Telugu Desam Party objecting to it.
BJP’s floor leader in the State Assembly, K lakshman has objected to the Telangana Government’s choice of Brand Ambassador on the ground that she was married to a Pakistani. “She is a daughter-in -law of Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan’s test cricketer Shoaib Malik is married to 28-year-old Sania Mirza.
Alleging that appointment of Sania as brand ambassador was a vote bank politics aimed at appeasing the Muslim community, lakshman said, “The CM wants pre-1956 documents as proof of being a native even from those hailing from Telangana to claim fee reimbursement. But he makes an exception to a Pakistani daughter-in-law who was born in Mumbai and Bred in Hyderabad”.
lakskhman also found fault with Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for giving her a grant of Rs 10 million while giving a reward of only Rs 2.5 million to another achiever from Telangana Malavath Poorna who had scaled Mount Everest last month.
Telugu Desam Party Youth Wing Secretary Jimmy Babu also objected to Sania’s appointment. “Has she given proof of being a native of Telangana”, he asked.
However, the State Government has strongly defended its decision. “She is a Hyderabadi and a great achiever with international fame and acclaim. She was the most suitable choice as brand ambassador of Telangana”, said TV Ramana Chary, cultural advisory to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
“People are asking why not VV lakshman or Sania Nehwal. Sania Mirza is a class apart in terms of popularity. She is well known in sports as well as in the world of glamour”, he said exuding confidence that she will bring a lot of value to the State.
Chief Minister KCR, who had handed over the appointment letter to Sania Mirza on July 22 described her as a gifted player.
Pointing out that Telangana was the youngest State in the country, he said, “who could be more suitable to represent the State than Sania Mirza”. He said that the grant of Rs 10 million was to help her in getting good coaching and training to improve her game and achieve more success.
“We are proud of Sania who is a true Hyderabadi. She is ranked number five in international tennis and we wish she becomes the number one”, KCR said.
Sania Mirza herself has started strongly to the row created by politicians.
In a statement issued on Thursday, she said to describe her as an outsider was condemnable as her family had been staying in Hyderabad for more than a century. She stressed that even after her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik she continues to be an Indian citizen.
“I am married to Mr Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life,” Sania said.
“It hurts me that so much precious time of prominent politicians and the media is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed the Brand Ambassador of my State of Telangana. I sincerely believe that this precious time should be spent on solving the more urgent issues of our State and country,” Sania said in a statement.IJ
“I was born in Mumbai as my mother needed to be at a specialist hospital since she was seriously unwell at the time of my birth. I came home to Hyderabad when I was 3 weeks old. “My forefathers have lived in Hyderabad for more than a century. My grandfather, Mr. Mohammed Zaffer Mirza started his career as an Engineer in Nizam's Railways in Hyderabad in 1948 and died in his ancestral home in Hyderabad,” she said.
Sania also spoke about her great grandfather Mohd. Ahmed Mirza, insisting that he “was also born and raised in Hyderabad. He was the Chief Engineer, Water Works, Hyderabad and was responsible for constructing the famous Gandipet dam.” “My great, great grandfather, Mr. Aziz Mirza was the Home Secretary under the Nizam in Hyderabad and worked tirelessly for relief works during the historic Musi River floods of 1908.”