Actor Paresh Rawal, campaigning for the BJP in Gujarat, has run into controversy for his comments about Bengalis. In a rally, he said, the people of Gujarat will tolerate inflation but not the neighboring “Bangladeshis and Rohingyas”. He apologized today after facing massive backlash.
“But the price of gas cylinders will come down. People will also get employment. But if Rohingya immigrants and Bangladeshis start living in your neighborhood like Delhi, what will happen? What to do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for Bengalis.” ?” Paresh Rawal said on Tuesday in Valsad, which voted in the first phase of Gujarat elections yesterday.
“Gujarati people can tolerate inflation but not the way they do verbal abuse. One of them needs to wear a diaper on his face.”
The actor was seen targeting Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), rules the capital city.
“He used to come here in a private plane and then sit in a rickshaw to perform. We have spent a lifetime in acting but we have never seen such a nattankiwala. And a lot of abuse against Hindus. He offered biryani at Shaheen Bagh,” Mr Rawal said.
Many called it “hate speech” aimed at Bengalis. Others described it as “xenophobic dog-whistling” against the Bangladeshi and Rohingya.
After a flurry of angry tweets, Paresh Rawal wrote an apology post this morning, claiming he meant “illegal Bangladeshi”.
He posted, “of course the fish is not the issue AS GUJARATIS DO COOK AND EAT FISH . BUT LET ME CLARIFY BY BENGALI I MEANT ILLEGAL BANGLA DESHI N ROHINGYA. BUT STILL IF I HAVE HURT YOUR FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS I DO APOLOGISE.”