Just days after 49 CRPF jawans were killed in a terror attack in Kashmir, rabble-rouser BJP MLA Raja Singh demanded that tennis star Sania Mirza must be removed as the brand ambassador for the state of Telangana. This, just a day after Sania, who is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, put out a statement condemning the attack.
In a video being circulated on social media, Raga Singh said, "Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao took a decision that he would not celebrate his birthday (which fell on February 17) to extend condolences to the troopers who were killed. However, I have another request to the Telangana CM. When several countries across the world, including India, want to cut ties with Pakistan, you also have one tie to break."
“You must revoke your decision that made Sania Mirza the brand ambassador of Telangana immediately. Because in Telangana itself, there are many good players,” he said, citing the names of VVS Laxman, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.
“They have won many medals for Telangana and India. We don’t need to make a Pakistani daughter-in-law our brand ambassador,” the Goshamahal legislator added.
In her statement on Sunday, Sania had said, "I don't need to condemn an attack publicly, or come and scream from rooftops all over social media that we are against terrorism... of course we are against terrorism and anyone that spread it... any person in their right mind is against terrorism and if they are not then that's a problem!! I play for my country, sweat for it and that's how I serve my country (sic)."
"I stand with the CRPF jawaans and their families, my heart goes out to them and they are our true heroes who protect our country... 14th February was a black day for India and I hope we never have to see another day like this, no amount of condolences can make any of this better...this day will not be forgotten and neither shall it be forgiven but YES I will still pray for peace and you should too instead of spreading more hate..anger is good as long as it's being channeled into something productive..you are achieving nothing by trolling other people..there was no place for terrorism in this world and there never will be (sic)," she had added.
Raja Singh, the only BJP MLA in the present Telangana Assembly, has been repeatedly accused of making controversial statements and speeches, particularly against Muslims.
Just earlier this month, the Dabeerpura Police Station in Hyderabad had booked him for hate speech after that there was no place in India, for those who did not sing 'Vande Mataram'. Several cases of hate speech and trying to promote enmity between religions are also pending against the MLA.