It's not funny: After alleged hate speech against Bengalis, Kolkata police books Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal: Veteran actor Paresh Rawal thought he was being funny when he used a fish analogy to target Bengalis during an election campaign in Gujarat. The former BJP MP went on to say that the Bengalis can tolerate inflation but not Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, in an obvious reference to their regional biases.

Not only did Paresh have to eat humble pie but also landed himself in a soup with the Trinamul Congress lashing out at him. CPM leader Md Salim lodging a complaint with the police.

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Rawal apologised on Friday following a huge backlash on the social media over his comments.

"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 N Rohingya. But still if I have hurt your feelings and sentiments I do apologise," the 67-year-old actor and former BJP MP wrote on Twitter.

Rawal had taken up the issue of gas cylinder prices, an emotive poll issue, at a BJP rally in Valsad district on Tuesday.

"Gas cylinders are expensive, but their price will come down. People will get employment too. But what will happen if Rohingya migrants and Bangladeshis start living around you, like in Delhi? ... What will you do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for the Bengalis?" Rawal had said.   

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“So once again the politics of violence, hate, and division is out in the open. Renowned actor Mr. Paresh Rawal who is a member of the BJP, remarked about cooking fish for the Bengalis. I think this was utterly distasteful and a very insensitive remark. The BJP and the union government is unable to tackle the rising prices of gas cylinders, and also  inflation. But they turn around the problem and directed it this time to the Bengalis and their habit of eating fish," Shashi Panja, who holds the portfolios of Industries, Commerce & Enterprises and Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare in West Bengal, said.

Md Salim has written to the Taltala Police Station in Kolkata urging them to treat his complaint as an FIR and prosecute the actor as his comments has demeaned Bengalis abd shown them in a poor light.

"A large number of Bengalis reside outside the limits of the state. I apprehend many of them will be prejudicially targeted and affected because of the vicious remarks made by Paresh Rawal," Md. Salim says in his letter to the police.

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