NEW DELHI: Popular Bollywood actor and politician Paresh Rawal, who had kicked up a political storm by asking the voters in Gujarat whether they will “cook fish for the Bengalis” with their cheap gas connections, has now apologised for his comments. The BJP leader took to Twitter and apologised for his remarks and also clarified that by Bengalis, he meant “illegal Bangladeshis”.
“Of course the fish is not the issue AS GUJARATIS DO COOK AND EAT FISH. BUT LET ME CLARIFY BY BENGALI I MEANT ILLEGAL BANGLA DESHI N ROHINGYA. BUT STILL IF I HAVE HURT YOUR FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS I DO APOLOGISE,” Rawal tweeted.
of course the fish is not the issue AS GUJARATIS DO COOK AND EAT FISH . BUT LET ME CLARIFY BY BENGALI I MEANT ILLEGAL BANGLA DESHI N ROHINGYA. BUT STILL IF I HAVE HURT YOUR FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS I DO APOLOGISE. https://t.co/MQZ674wTzq
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) December 2, 2022
It may be noted that Rawal made the controversial statement while campaigning for the BJP in the city of Valsad in poll-bound Gujarat. Addressing a rally, Rawal claimed that the people of Gujarat can still tolerate inflation but not “Bangladeshis and Rohingyas” living next door.
“Gas cylinders are expensive, but their price will come down. People will get employment too. But what will happen if Rohingya migrants and Bangladeshis start living around you, like in Delhi? What will you do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for the Bengalis?” Paresh Rawal said in Valsad, which voted in the first phase of the Gujarat election yesterday.
“Gujarat people can tolerate inflation but not this … The way they deliver verbal abuses. A person among them needs to wear a diaper on his mouth,” the actor-politician said.
The popular Bollywood actor, who is known for his excellent comic timing in several blockbuster films, appeared to be targeting AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who has made tall promises to people of Gujarat in order to win the crucial assembly polls.
Targeting Kejriwal, Rawal said, “He would come in a private plane here and then sit in a rickshaw to show off. We have spent a lifetime in acting but even we have not seen such a ”nautankiwala.” And plenty of abuses against Hindus. He had offered Biryani in Shaheen Bagh.”
However, his speech was labelled by many as “hate speech” aimed at Bengalis. After a flurry of angry tweets, the actor-politician tendered an apology, saying he didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s sentiments and feelings.
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