I'm not Zaira Wasim: Babita Phogat, after tweets spark controversy
What's the story
Wrestler Babita Phogat, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019, slammed her critics on Twitter this morning after one of her posts regarding Tablighi Jamaat sparked a controversy. Babita claimed to have been receiving hate messages and threats but warned she isn't Zaira Wasim, the actor who played her sister Geeta Phogat in blockbuster movie Dangal. She clarified she would continue speaking her mind.
What happened
She slammed Tablighi Jamaat in a tweet
On April 15, Babita posted a tweet targeting Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic sect whose event became India's coronavirus super-spreader. Posted originally in Hindi, the tweet is loosely translated to "Coronavirus is the second biggest problem in India, the first one remains uneducated Jamaatis." At the time of the press, the tweet had garnered 19,500 RTs and nearly 77,000 likes.
Twitter Post
Here's the tweet
कोरोना वायरस भारत की दूसरे नंबर की सबसे बड़ी समस्या है।
— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) April 15, 2020
जाहिल जमाती अभी भी पहले नंबर पर बना हुआ है।#jahiljamati
Row
#SuspendBabitaPhogat trended, her supporters started #ISupportBabitaPhogat
The tweet, and a couple of others, didn't age well on Twitter and hundreds of users demanded that her account be suspended. #SuspendBabitaPhogat remained a top trend and to counter it, Babita's supporters posted tweets with the hashtag #ISupportBabitaPhogat. As things got ugly on the micro-blogging website, Babita put an over one-minute long video, saying she would not be silenced.
What she said
Have always fought for my country: Babita
In the clip, Babita said she was receiving threats. "I am no Zaira Wasim, I won't get threatened, I have always fought for my country, I stand by my tweets," she said. To recall, Zaira snapped ties with Bollywood last year saying acting was affecting her relationship with her religion. The decision sparked a huge controversy, with many opining Zaira was bullied into quitting.
Quote
Will always speak the truth: Babita
"I would like to ask all of you to tell me whether it isn't true that Tablighi Jamaat members indeed spread coronavirus. If they had not gathered, we would have gotten rid of the virus by now. I will always speak the truth," she added.
Twitter Post
Here's her video message
यदि आप बबीता फोगाट को सपोर्ट करते हैं तो उन तक यह बात जरूर पहुंचा दीजिए और उनको बोलिए ध्यान से कान खोल कर सुन लें। pic.twitter.com/gqec3lQwPE
— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) April 17, 2020
Details
Babita also backed Rangoli Chandel, whose account was suspended
Babita also lent support to Rangoli Chandel, actor Kangana Ranaut's sister, whose account was suspended on Thursday. Fuming over the Moradabad stone-pelting incident, Rangoli called for "shooting mullas" and a section of media who supported them. She didn't mind being called Nazis for suggesting violence. After her account was suspended, Rangoli said she doesn't want to be a part of an "anti-India" platform.
Event
Jamaat's event was ridiculed for not following guidelines
To recall, Tablighi Jamaat held a congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz in March which turned into a COVID-19 hotspot. A large number of coronavirus infections in India are linked to the sect. However, with hate speech and sensationalism taking over the country's fight against the deadly disease, states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have appealed to not communalize the incident.