What’s the difference between Sania and Sonia?

Sania Mirza married a Pakistani and therefore is Pakistan’s daughter-in-law, says Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Telangana leader K Lakshman.  But the same party refuses to accept Sonia Gandhi as an Indian even though she had married an Indian. Why?

Lakshman had one more gem—Sania was born in Maharashtra, so she is not even a local. Can’t be called Telangana brand ambassador. Granted.

How about Amitabh Bachchan who was born in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and entirely made his career in Mumbai, Maharashtra but was chosen to become brand ambassador of Gujarat? Why did the BJP over there not find any fault with Amitabh not being from Gujarat?

When Mehbooba Mufti amended property laws in Kashmir and said Kashmiri women married to non-Kashmiris won’t have property rights in Kashmir, there was a huge hue and cry. BJP wanted a national debate. They said Mehbooba was depriving Kashmiri women the choice to marry anyone they liked. Babu Bajrangi, a convict in Gujarat riots, for decades ran an organisation that would ‘rescue’ Hindu girls who were ‘lured’ by Muslim boys and were led away from Hinduism. Bajrangi and his ilk from the Sanghparivaar termed it as a wide conspiracy by the Muslims and it was called as 'Love Jihaad'.

BJP and the sanghparivaar won’t admit it now, but for our saffron brigade Hindu and Indian were synonymous. It’s for other religious minorities that they must wear their patriotism on their sleeves. It’s the same mentality that has been displayed by K Lakshman. If at all, it’s in line with what the Sanghparivaar has always belived. It’s in line with what  VD Savarkar wrote in his book 'Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History', where he cries over Hindu women being taken over by aggressor nations.

ALSO READ: 'Why am I being picked on?' asks a tearful Sania Mirza after being targeted about her 'Indianness'