Paresh Rawal, an actor, has sparked outrage with his viral statements about Bengalis while campaigning for the ruling BJP in Gujarat.
Former Member of Parliament and CPI(M) politician Md Salim has reported an incident to the police, while the Trinamool Congress, Bengal’s ruling party, has criticised actor Paresh Rawal for his offensive remarks.
Paresh Rawal declared at a gathering that Gujaratis will suffer inflation but not “Bangladeshis and Rohingya” next door, and he used a “cooking fish” metaphor that infuriated Bengalis.
In a letter to the Taltala Police Station in Kolkata, Mr. Salim requested that they file a formal complaint outlining his complaint and bring charges against the actor for spreading unfavourable perceptions of Bengalis through his words.
Even while the seasoned actor tried to clarify his remarks with a qualified apology, he escalated the conflict by saying that when he used the term “Bengalis,” he meant “illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya.”
Many interpreted it as “hate speech” directed at Bengalis. Others called it “xenophobic dog-whistling” toward the Rohingya and Bangladeshi populations.
Source: NDTV
