Full text: Sania Mirza reacts to BJP's Pak jibe, 'Will remain Indian all my life'

Ace tennis player Sania Mirza has reacted to the political controversy where she has been termed “Pakistan’s daughter-in-law” by a BJP legislator, after she was appointed Telangana’s brand ambassador on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_1632469” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ace tennis player Sania Mirza was made the Telangana ambassador on Wednesday. Reuters[/caption] Mirza, in her statement issued this afternoon, said she is and will remain an Indian till the end of her life and that politicans as well as the media should use their time on more pressing issues. Below is the full text of her statement:

It hurts me that so much precious time of prominent politicians and the media is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed the Brand Ambassador of my State of Telangana. 1. I am married to Mr. Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life. 2. I was born in Mumbai as my mother needed to be at a specialist hospital since she was seriously unwell at the time of my birth. 3. I came home to Hyderabad when I was 3 weeks old. My forefathers have lived in Hyderabad for more than a century. My grandfather, Mr. Mohammed Zaffer Mirza started his career as an Engineer in Nizam’s Railways in Hyderabad in 1948 and died in his ancestral home in Hyderabad. My great grandfather, Mr. Mohd. Ahmed Mirza was also born and raised in Hyderabad. He was the Chief Engineer, Water Works, Hyderabad and was responsible for constructing the famous Gandipet dam. My great, great grandfather, Mr. Aziz Mirza was the Home Secretary under the Nizam in Hyderabad and worked tirelessly for relief works during the historic Musi River floods of 1908. So, my family belongs to Hyderabad for more than a century and I strongly condemn any attempts by any person, whosoever, to brand me an outsider. I hope this clears all doubts and issues. SANIA MIRZA

  Senior BJP legislator K Laxman sparked a controversy when he objected to Mirza being appointed Telangana brand ambassador by the TRS government. Laxman’s objection was that she was now a “daughter-in-law of Pakistan because of her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Laxman further suggested that the step by the government was taken with an eye on the minority community votes in the upcoming elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. “Sania Mirza was born in Maharashtra. She was brought-up by her parents in Hyderabad. Then, she married a Pakistani. How can a non-local become Telangana ambassador?” Laxman questioned, further stating that “she is not the only person who has brought national glory. There are many natives who had brought glory to the nation. She has disrespected the national flag earlier at Olympics.” “Feelings of Telangana community will be hurt if Sania Mirza is appointed state ambassador,” he added.