Hema draws flak over her remark on Vrindavan widows

Hema draws flak over her remark on Vrindavan widows

TERMING MP Hema Malini's statement about widows of Vrindavan as " insensitive". the NGOs working for them have said that this has "broken the heart" of thousands of widows who had many hopes from the actor-turned- politician.

Hema. a Member of Parliament from Mathura, had made a controversial remark saying the widows from Bengal and Bihar should 004 crowd Vrindavan. the holy city in Uttar Pradesh home to thousands of destitute women. She had also said. "Vrindavan widows have a bank balance, good income, nice beds, but they beg out of habit."

Mohini Giri. the chairperson of NGO Guild of Service, which runs Amar Bari ashram in Vrindavan. has said that this statement has "broken the heart" of thousands of widows Who had many hopes from Ileum.

"This is very insensitive statement. Why only widows are targeted. What is the dignity and status of a widow. We are not going to tolerate this," the veteran social activist said.

"Tomorrow someone will say that you are also widow and you are from Andhra so go back to your slate. What will I do then? Is this we expect in our country. My widows arc crying. They has a lot of hopes from Hema who is not able to understand their condition despite being a woman." she said. Giri claimed that she wrote three letters to the Bollywood actress but did not get any prompt reply. "She isan MP so she should ensure governance and social security to widows. I have written three letters to her and yesterday got her only reply that talk to my PA. I am now going to stay ahead and see that no widow is touched. We must provide them security, shelter and dignity." she said. Giri also claimed (hat these widows, living for decades in Vrindavan. do not want to go hack to their place.

"I met and spoke to then West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu 20 years back regarding this issue. He said that he will give them roof and 300 Rs per month. I did a survey on widows and each one of them had said thai iliey don't want to go hack to Bengal." she said.

"If she (Hema) dunks that they are disturbing the people of Vrindavan then what is she doing. She has been visiting temples for last lOyears anddisturbingcommon public there." said Giri.

Posted in: News 2014