SANIA MIRZA CONTROVERSY
There has been a lot of hullabaloo about Indian tennis star Sania Mirza being appointed as a ‘Brand Ambassador’ of Telangana. She is supposed to promote the new “state’s interests” in India and abroad.Some political parties have opposed her appointment, saying that she was Pakistan‘s daughter-in-law because she is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.
Quite a few political parties have on the other hand, supported the move saying that as an individual she has the right to marry someone of her choice and that does not detract her from her achievements or from her nationality.
This issue has raised an ugly and a needless controversy about her deserving the honor or not. Sports should always be above politics.
Sania has rightfully defended herself by saying that her family had been staying in Hyderabad for more than a century and to call her an outsider now was condemnable.The Government is well within its rights to appoint anyone it deems fit to further the name and brand value of the state. A prime example of this is Gujarat, which has appointed actor Amitabh Bachchan as the Brand Ambassador of Gujarat Tourism though he is not a resident of the state. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan is the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal.
Her statement that:” I am an Indian and will always remain an Indian, till the end of my life“ speaks volumes about her Indian-ness! It is hoped that political parties will rise above such petty issues and concentrate on more constructive approach to solving other bigger problems faced by the country.
SANIA MIRZA CONTROVERSY
SANIA MIRZA CONTROVERSY
There has been a lot of hullabaloo about Indian tennis star Sania Mirza being appointed as a ‘Brand Ambassador’ of Telangana. She is supposed to promote the new “state’s interests” in India and abroad.Some political parties have opposed her appointment, saying that she was Pakistan‘s daughter-in-law because she is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.
Quite a few political parties have on the other hand, supported the move saying that as an individual she has the right to marry someone of her choice and that does not detract her from her achievements or from her nationality.
This issue has raised an ugly and a needless controversy about her deserving the honor or not. Sports should always be above politics.
Sania has rightfully defended herself by saying that her family had been staying in Hyderabad for more than a century and to call her an outsider now was condemnable.The Government is well within its rights to appoint anyone it deems fit to further the name and brand value of the state. A prime example of this is Gujarat, which has appointed actor Amitabh Bachchan as the Brand Ambassador of Gujarat Tourism though he is not a resident of the state. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan is the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal.
Her statement that:” I am an Indian and will always remain an Indian, till the end of my life“ speaks volumes about her Indian-ness! It is hoped that political parties will rise above such petty issues and concentrate on more constructive approach to solving other bigger problems faced by the country.