Indian actor Paresh Rawal apologises for his remark on Bengalis

Indian Actor and politician Paresh Rawal on Friday apologised for his controversial comment in Gujarat aiming at the people of Bengal.

While asking for an apology, Rawal said that he referred to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, not the people of Bengal, reports The Hindustan Times.

The actor, who won the Lok Sabha election from Ahmedabad East in 2014 on a BJP ticket, was seen in a widely-circulated video asking people to back the BJP for their security and not be influenced by other issues when he made the controversial remark.

West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) was the first to take offence to the remark.

TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale said that it was an insult to Bengalis, a violation of the model code of conduct and demanded that the Election Commission of India take strict action against the actor who turned himself into a politician.

“We’ve seen how you have (EC) continued to give a free hand to BJP & exempted them from all electoral rules. But we will not tolerate the insult of Bengal & Bengalis. This is a violation of the code of conduct. We need action now! @CEOGujarat,” Gokhale tweeted.

The first phase of voting in Gujarat was held on December 1, and the second phase of the poll is scheduled for Monday. Results will be declared on December 8, along with Himachal Pradesh. Political parties in Bengal too are prepping for the panchayat elections expected to be held early next year.

“Mr @SirPareshRawal: Bengalis don’t need you to “cook fish” for them. Remember you too have made your career in Maharashtra where we lovingly fed you dhokla & fafda. Withdraw and apologise for these despicable remarks you made against Bengal on orders of BJP in Gujarat,” he tweeted.

Many others from Bengal also found Paresh Rawal’s comment offensive, wondering what cooking fish had to do with the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

“Of course, the fish is not the issue As Gujaratis do cook and eat fish. But let me clarify by Bengali I meant illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya. But still, if I have hurt your feelings and sentiments I do apologise,” said Rawal in his tweeter post.