(Image source from: www.alaraby.co.uk)
Indian actress Priyanka Chopra has been characterized as a hypocrite over a tweet she posted in February amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan over Pulwama attack that killed more than 40 CRRPF personnel.
During a cosmetics event, early this week in Los Angeles where Priyanka Chopra was in presence was accused of “encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan” by an audience member Ayesha Malik.
Priyanka Chopra in 2016 was appointed as a United Nations goodwill ambassador.
"My friend and I were walking around and we walked by Priyanka's talk," Malik, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani origin, told Al Jazeera on Monday. "We did not want to watch or stick around but I heard her start talking about how she's a humanitarian - she said we should 'love our neighbors' and I just thought that was very funny of her to say."
Priyanka Chopra tweeted during a time when we were this close to sending nukes to one another. Instead of advocating for peace she tweeted in support of the Indian army pic.twitter.com/LhbMkOW59v
— Ayesha Malik (@Spishaa) August 11, 2019
In the video, Malik is heard saying: "It was kind of hard hearing you talk about humanity, because as your neighbor, a Pakistani, I know you are a bit of a hypocrite because you tweeted on February 26, 'Jai Hind [Hail India] #IndianArmedForces”.
"You are a UNICEF (Goodwill) Ambassador for peace and you are encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan, there is no winner in this," she told Chopra.
The actress’ tweet came shortly after Indian fighter jets crossed into Pakistani territory, carrying out air raids that resulted in an escalation in hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 26, 2019
The venue's security took away the microphone from Malik while she was still speaking.
“Whenever you’re don’t venting”. Sorry, didn’t realize that speaking on a humanitarian crisis was “venting” pic.twitter.com/OqCLgjDNa1
— Ayesha Malik (@Spishaa) August 11, 2019
"I know I'm on the right side of history here. She (Priyanka Chopra) said, 'stop yelling'. You just saw my mic being taken away, how else are you supposed to hear me if I don't raise my voice?," Malik was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
Responding to Malik at the cosmetics event, Chopra said she was not fond of war but called herself "patriotic".
"I'm sorry if I hurt sentiments to people who do love me and have loved me, but I think that all of us have a sort of middle ground that we all have to walk, just like you probably do as well," the 37-year-old actress said.
"The way you came at me right now? Girl, don't yell.
"We're all here for love. Don't yell. Don't embarrass yourself. But we all walk that middle ground, but thank you for your enthusiasm and your question and your voice."
The video of face-off went viral on social media with some supporting Chopra for being "graceful" while others bashing her for avoiding the question.
By Sowmya Sangam
