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I am an Indian, will remain an Indian until end of my life: Sania

Indian tennis star replies to senior BJP legislator Dr K Laxman who questioned her appointment as brand ambassador of Telangana state.

The appointment of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza as the brand ambassador of Telangana by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government has snowballed into a major controversy with senior BJP legislator Dr K Laxman, who described her as a ‘daughter-in-law of Pakistan,’ questioning the motive behind the state government’s move.

“She insulted India by refusing to carry the national flag during the London Olympics, and she is married to a Pakistani (cricketer Shoaib Malik). Moreover, with the Telangana government setting up 1956 as the cut-off point to determine nativity of Telangana, she is an outsider since she was born in Maharashtra,” Laxman said, adding that the TRS government was only resorting to appeasement politics by bestowing the honour on Sania.

Taking serious exception to the remarks, Sania, in a hard-hitting statement on Thursday, said: “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. I sincerely believe that this precious time should be spent on solving the more urgent issues of our state and country.”

Stating that her marriage to Shoaib Malik does not take away the fact that she remains an Indian citizen, the 27-year-old tennis star said: “I am married to Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. I am an Indian and will remain an Indian until the end of my life.” On the question of her nativity, Sania said it was condemnable to call her an outsider since her family has been staying in Hyderabad for over a century. “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. I came home to Hyderabad when I was just three weeks old,” she said, adding that her forefathers lived in Hyderabad for more than a century.

Tracing back her family history, Sania said: “My grandfather, 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, 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, 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,” she said, adding that given her family history and contribution to Telangana, it was hurtful to hear such comments against her appointment as brand ambassador of the state.

‘I strongly condemn any attempt by any person, whosoever, to brand me an outsider. I hope this clears all doubts and issues,” she said.

Sania was appointed brand ambassador on Tuesday with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao himself handing over a certificate and cheque for Rs10 million. Describing the tennis sensation as a “daughter of Hyderabad,” KCR said: “Telangana is proud of Sania who is a true Hyderabadi. She’s now ranked number five in international tennis and we wish she becomes the number one.”

Reacting to the appointment, Laxman, who is the BJP floor leader in the State Assembly, questioning Sania’s credentials for the honour, said it was evident from various decisions and statements made by TRS that clearly indicate that the ruling party was indulging in appeasement of minorities with an eye on elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls. “Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao issued directions to celebrate Nawab Ali Jung’s birthday as Telangana Engineers Day besides yielding to pressure from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to include Charminar in the official logo of the state,” he said, adding that Sania had never participated in the agitation for separate state for Telangana.