It was April way back in 80’s when Mohsin Hasan Khan, the flamboyant cricketer married Bollywood star Reena Roy and its April again. The news of a cross border marriage is becoming bigger and bigger day by day with twists and turns. Indian tennis megastar Sania Mirza has been criticized by the Shiv Sena and some other right wing parties for deciding to marry the Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Like always Shiv Sena is there to make a non issue an issue. Bal Thackeray questioned Sania’s commitment to the country in an editorial of his party’s news paper.
• “Henceforth, Sania will not remain an Indian. Had her heart been Indian, it wouldn’t have beaten for a Pakistani. If she wished to play for India, she should have chosen an Indian life partner,â€
• “After marriage, Sania will become a Pakistani citizen. How can she have Pakistani citizenship and play for India? Has this country become a tennis ball to Sania that she plays with it, however she pleases?†adds the Sena.
The venue of marriage has been shifted to Dubai earlier but according to Rediff.com Shoaib’s brother in law says,
“The marriage will take place in Hyderabad and there is no chance of shifting it to Dubai; all the family members are going to participate without any fear. Shiv Sena’s warning is always just a gimmick, so no one should fear about it and the marriage will go on according to schedule.”
Thanks to the media for the exaggeration and extra fanatical coverage of the story, the very personal moment of their life has been turned into a cross border reality show. Probably the bride and the groom never thought about the response they are receiving after the decision of getting married. One can hope and pray for the longevity and prosperous marriage of Shoaib and Sania.
Image: Cartonist Satish
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