Hema Malini tries to justify Vrindavan widows remark

Chennai: Even as actor-politician MP Hema Malini stood by her comment that widows from West Bengal and Bihar were crowding Vrindavan in UP and that they should stay back in their states instead of coming to the holy town, and retorted that she had had stated that only in the context of how they were being ignored by their home states, the MP’s stance drew more flak on Thursday with angry citizens lashed out against the MP for her insensitivity.

The 65-year-old BJP Lok Sabha MP tweeted, “I haven’t said anything that I should be ashamed of. I stand by my statement that they should be allowed to live with dignity. Sad state for a country once known for the respect shown to women. This is what I was trying to point out.”

“It is traumatic to see these poor widows begging on the streets even for their daily existence. Have all of you ever witnessed their plight? Of course I intend doing what I can to improve their condition but Vrindavan has a space limitation too. The state government too should contribute,” the actor-politician added.

“For no fault of theirs, they are thrown on the streets and are compelled to beg to survive. Is this fair? Do you think these old women deserve this fate? Also most are from West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. My request was to these people to have a more humane approach and look after these poor widows properly,” she stated in her tweet.

Citing a report on the “Situation Analysis on Widows in Religious Places of West Bengal” by the ministry of women and child development, the Mathura MP urged public go through the report for understanding the true plight the women.

Flaying Hema Malini’s statement, CPM central committee member U. Vasuki said, “It is highly deplorable. Widows are already leading a deprived life. To lead a decent life, they go to Vrindavan which they consider as a holy place. It is not right to ask them not to crowd Vrindavan as anyone can go anywhere in the country.” Urging the state and Central governments to provide necessary infrastructure to widows going to Vrindavan, Ms Vasuki said Hema Malini should also do her bit as she represents that Lok Sabha constituency.