Tweet
MUMBAI: The Congress has made a poll issue of remarks allegedly made by BJP MP and actor Hema Malini against north Indians of Mumbai.
Zakir Hussain, media coordinator of the city Congress, said she had "no right to ask anyone to leave the city. Her statement is in keeping with the anti-north Indian stance adopted by the BJP's ally, the Shiv Sena." MPCC spokesperson Hussain Dalwai described her remarks as "irresponsible".
After addressing a BMC election meeting here on Wednesday night, a reporter told Hema Malini that the north Indians of the city are unhappy with the treatment being meted out to them. Reacting to this, Hema Malini reportedly said: "If they are unhappy here then they should go back (to their home states)."
Hema Malini was unavailable for comment. But state BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde said, "I spoke to her and she has clarified that she never asked the north Indians to return to their home states. Her remarks have been twisted and taken out of context by the Congress in a desperate bid to woo north Indian voters. Since these voters are with us, the Congress is indulging in cheap gimmicks to win them over."
Tawde said: "When a reporter repeatedly told her that north Indians are unhappy in Mumbai and they wish to return to their home states, Hema Malini said it was for them to take a decision."
Atul Shah, city BJP spokesperson, said, "Our party has taken up the cause of north Indians several times in the past and there is no question of anyone in our organisation speaking against them. We want all communities to live in harmony in Mumbai."
Another BJP leader said, "Hema Malini herself is married to a north Indian (Dharmendra) and, hence, there is no question of her saying anything derogatory to north Indians."
North Indian voters play an important role in several wards, specially in suburbs like Goregaon, Kandivli, Borivli, Malad, Jogeshwari and Kurla. That is why all the parties are trying to woo them.
Since the BJP is nationally led by Rajnath Singh of Uttar Pradesh, the party has got him to campaign for its candidates in north Indian-dominated areas.
The Shiv Sena is also making friendly noises towards them. The Sena is trying to play down the incident in Kalyan station a couple of years ago when its activists attacked north Indians who had come to the city to appear for a railway recruitment examination.
The Sena is now saying that the attack was masterminded by Raj Thackeray who is no more with it. The Sena is also using the Hindutva card to attract north Indians.
Source
Zakir Hussain, media coordinator of the city Congress, said she had "no right to ask anyone to leave the city. Her statement is in keeping with the anti-north Indian stance adopted by the BJP's ally, the Shiv Sena." MPCC spokesperson Hussain Dalwai described her remarks as "irresponsible".
After addressing a BMC election meeting here on Wednesday night, a reporter told Hema Malini that the north Indians of the city are unhappy with the treatment being meted out to them. Reacting to this, Hema Malini reportedly said: "If they are unhappy here then they should go back (to their home states)."
Hema Malini was unavailable for comment. But state BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde said, "I spoke to her and she has clarified that she never asked the north Indians to return to their home states. Her remarks have been twisted and taken out of context by the Congress in a desperate bid to woo north Indian voters. Since these voters are with us, the Congress is indulging in cheap gimmicks to win them over."
Tawde said: "When a reporter repeatedly told her that north Indians are unhappy in Mumbai and they wish to return to their home states, Hema Malini said it was for them to take a decision."
Atul Shah, city BJP spokesperson, said, "Our party has taken up the cause of north Indians several times in the past and there is no question of anyone in our organisation speaking against them. We want all communities to live in harmony in Mumbai."
Another BJP leader said, "Hema Malini herself is married to a north Indian (Dharmendra) and, hence, there is no question of her saying anything derogatory to north Indians."
North Indian voters play an important role in several wards, specially in suburbs like Goregaon, Kandivli, Borivli, Malad, Jogeshwari and Kurla. That is why all the parties are trying to woo them.
Since the BJP is nationally led by Rajnath Singh of Uttar Pradesh, the party has got him to campaign for its candidates in north Indian-dominated areas.
The Shiv Sena is also making friendly noises towards them. The Sena is trying to play down the incident in Kalyan station a couple of years ago when its activists attacked north Indians who had come to the city to appear for a railway recruitment examination.
The Sena is now saying that the attack was masterminded by Raj Thackeray who is no more with it. The Sena is also using the Hindutva card to attract north Indians.
Source
Comment