Kolkata: It seems there is no end to harassment for Dangal actress Zaira Wasim. Now, the latest to take the sixteen-year-old girl from Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to task is Union Sports Minister, Vijay Goel. A tweet by Goel has offended Zaira who plays wrestler, Geeta Phogat in the blockbuster. The minister was inaugurating The India Art Festival in Delhi where reportedly, he came across a painting which reminded him of girls like Zaira. Goel tweeted an image of the canvas along with the words, “This paintaing tells a story similar to Zaira Wasim’s. Pinjra tor kar hamari betiyaan barne lagi hai aage. More powers to our daughters.”
This however did not go down well with Zaira, who hit back, saying, “Women in hijab are beautiful and free… Moreover, the story depicted through the painting is not even remotely relevant to mine.” Taken aback, the minister, tried to normalise the situation by tweeting that Zaira misunderstood him and also wished her success, but Zaira was in no mood to forgive and forget. She didn’t even bother to reply to his tweet.
Zaira who faced controversies after meeting, J&K, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti recently, that coerced her into apologising and even stating that she was no role model, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. It is quite shocking for the girl who is paying a heavy price for being in the limelight. Though, she has received support from Bollywood and even Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, the unnecessary attacks from a group of activists and now Goel, must have taken their toll on the girl who hasn’t even been let to celebrate the success of her debut film.
Goel, who made news for the (in)famous selfie-episode in the Rio Olympics, has once again reinstated his position as a man who loves to create news by hook or crook. Time for him to discharge his responsibilities as a minister rather than getting into matters that do not need his intervention.
(With inputs from ANI)