After kicking up a controversy by posting a tweet on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'caste', actor Payal Rohatgi Monday apologised, but not before she drew flak on social media and from political parties.
After kicking up a controversy by posting a tweet on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'caste', actor Payal Rohatgi Monday apologised, but not before she drew flak on social media and from political parties.
"Chhatrapati shivaji maharaja was born in shudra varna in family of farmers and by sacred thread ceremony and remarriage to his spouse made a kshtriaya so that he could be coronated King. So people from one Varna could go to another Varna if they acquired that skill. No casteism?" the actor said in a tweet on Sunday.
chhatrapati shivaji maharaja was born in #shudra varna in family of farmers & by sacred thread ceremony & remarriage to his spouse made a #kshtriaya so that he could be coronated #King🙏 So people from 1 Varna could go 2 another Varna if they acquired that skill 🤨 NO casteism ? pic.twitter.com/AKBjvHJ1SI
— PAYAL ROHATGI & Team -BHAKTS of BHAGWAN RAM (@Payal_Rohatgi) June 1, 2019
After she faced immense backlash for her tweet, she uploaded a video Monday, apologising for her comments.
"My simple question has been misconstrued into a 'hate speech. Even I, obviously, worship such a legendary Hindu King. I was reading something and came across an information which I put out. But social media is full of nameless trolls," she said in the video.
@Payal_Rohatgi now take it as a warning don't distort history b were u are on 3rd page but plz don't comment on things which u are unaware about pic.twitter.com/h30Z71FtN9
— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) June 2, 2019
Rohatgi said she didn't ask the question to put the Maratha king down.
"I apologise with folded hands to all those who thought I was speaking ill about their maharaj...It's clear that I don't have the right to even ask a question as it'll be taken in the wrong sense," she said.
अभी भी नफ़रत है जातीवाद को लेकर भारत में🙏 मेरे सवाल पे जो अगर सच है तो दिखाता है कि सनातन धर्म कितना महान है परंतु अगर ग़लत है तो भी कोई बड़ी बात नहीं क्यूँकि हम हिंदू हैं आज #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj की वजह से🙏 परंतु बहुत मन दुखा यह Maratha लोगों के बर्ताव से🙏 #PayalRohatgi pic.twitter.com/yd0nOV0Ls0
— PAYAL ROHATGI & Team -BHAKTS of BHAGWAN RAM (@Payal_Rohatgi) June 3, 2019
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged the ruling BJP had paid Rohatgi and others to carry out character defamation of the opposition leaders and other famous social workers on their Twitter handles.
माफ़ी माँगती हु मराठी लोगों से 🙏मुझे जानकारी लेने का भी हक़ नहीं है भारत में 🙏 #PayalRohatgi pic.twitter.com/Xu1dvuhsTl
— PAYAL ROHATGI & Team -BHAKTS of BHAGWAN RAM (@Payal_Rohatgi) June 3, 2019
"We won't tolerate any disrespect towards Shivaji maharaj, who is idolised by many. Payal had also defamed Raja Ram Mohan Roy, supported 'Sati' system, and now she has also dared to insult Shivaji maharaj. This behaviour won't be tolerated," he said.
NCP did not stop here. The workers of NCP filed a written complaint against the actress & demanded to arrest Payal for her controversial tweet as soon as possible. Raj Thackeray’s party MNS & Congress also said that Payal should be arrested for her hurting the sentiments of crores of followers of King Shivaji.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik called for strict action and a police complaint against the actor.
"If Maharashtra CM does not take any action on her then we will protest across the state," he said.
Last Updated Jun 4, 2019, 11:26 AM IST