Right from the day they were elected to the Lok Sabha, Nusrat Jahan Ruhi (now Jain) and Mimi Chakraborty, actors and Trinamool leaders, hit the headlines, mobbed by photographers and subjects of selfies and trolls for their sartorial choices. In just three days in Parliament, they have seen it all.
The latest social media onslaught came when Ms. Jahan, who represents Bashirhat in West Bengal, took oath as an MP dressed in a white and red sari, with sindoor and chuda (traditional bangles worn by a Hindu bride). The reason: she is a Muslim who married businessman Nikhil Jain.
On the first day they visited Parliament, Ms. Jahan and Ms. Chakraborty were trolled for wearing western outfits. Ms. Jahan was in a plum-colour business suit, while Ms. Chakraborty was in white sneakers, blue jeans and white shirt.
‘Just ignore them’
“People who have been trolling are nobodies who are dying for our attention. I always portray them as our lovers in disguise who want attention from us. What we do is ignore them,” Ms. Jahan said.
Ms. Jahan made her maiden speech in Parliament on Wednesday. “People forget that religion does not come before nationality. I am an Indian and I am a very secular person. We all have the right to choose our spouse,” she told The Hindu .
Marrying Mr. Jain for her does not mean giving up her “Muslim” identity. “Getting married to a Hindu does not really mean that I will convert. I was born a Muslim and will remain so. There is no harm respecting the rituals of any other religion. I stand by the rituals of all religions and respect all religions and my religion does not ask me to stand against any other religion,” she added.
Middle path
In a highly polarised situation she began her oath with Assalamu Alaikum and Namaskar and took the oath in the name of Ishwar (god). She is clear on toeing the middle path. Asked whether she blames the BJP for the marginalisation of Muslims across the country she said, “I don’t blame anybody, I think it’s for the people to keep their peace of mind and not fall for anything negative.”
West Bengal has been on the brink since the May 23 election results. She does not openly blame the BJP which won 18 seats in the State for the situation.
“I am not naming any political party but anybody coming from outside and trying to hinder peace is not welcome. Nobody wants violence. What we have to do is not think about any other political party but think only on grounds of humanity,” Ms. Jahan said.
On the recent incidents of lynching, including the latest one in Jharkhand, she steers clear of stoking controversy. “Lynching can’t be entertained. Everyone has the right to choose their religion and rituals. And no one can impose anything on any one,” she said.
Is all the attention unnerving and does good looks come in the way of being taken seriously? “I don’t think about what people are thinking about me. If I did I could not have joined films considering I come from a conservative Muslim family,” Ms. Jahan said.
