Image Courtesy:timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Right Wing trolls slipped into a nosy-neighbourhood gossip club avatar and came out fangs bared to once again attack Nusrat Jahan, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Member of Parliament (MP) from Bashirhat. The actor-politician announced the end of her relationship with her partner Nikhil Jain, and issued a statement that she need not file for a divorce in India, as the marriage had not been registered under the Special Marriage Act.
She stated, “I will not speak about it as I intended to keep my private life to myself”. Nusrat Jahan released a statement today revealing that her marriage was according to Turkish Law and is not valid in India. The two had not registered their marriage here in India and they had been separated since November 2020.
While, this would at best be treated as yet another celebrity couple announcing a break-up in public, and been made into a few memes at best, or fuelled some virtue signalling at worse, it has taken on a communal hue. Nusrat Jahan had been viciously trolled when she shared wedding photos from Turkey and the world came to know her partner was Nikhil Jain. She was attacked online for wearing signs of matrimony usually worn by Hindu women, such as vermilion or sindoor, mangalsutra necklace, and bangles. That she is a modern Muslim woman, who takes her own decisions and shared her choices publicly, had riled both Hindu and Muslim hardliners. A ‘fatwa’ was announced by the Dar-ul-Uloom had against Jahan for marrying a non-Muslim and for what they called “un-Islamic” attire for a new bride. Jahan had then reacted that she represented “inclusive India” and then went on to ignore the trolls.
However, this time the trolls have started questioning the validity of her position as an MP. What seems to be missed is that Nusrat has stated that her belongings including jewellery her family gifted, was ‘illegally held back’ and also alleged that her funds were “mishandled” without her knowledge. She did not name Jain in her statement but said “the one who claims to be “rich” and “been used by me”, “has been taking money from my Account by accessing my Bank Accounts illegally and by illegitimate means at odd-hours of the night, even post-separation. I have already taken this up with the concerned Banking Authority and a Police Complaint shall be filed shortly.” She alleged that “details of all family Accounts were handed over to him, upon his requests and none of me or my family members was aware of any Instructions given to the Bank via our Accounts. He has also been mishandling my funds from various accounts without my knowledge and consent. I am still battling it out with the Bank & if need be, would release proof of the same.”
However, according to her critics, she took oath in Parliament as “Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain”, they accuse her of lying on the floor of the House? Hundreds posted photos of her with sindoor in her hair and accused her of “faking it”. The most dangerous were the ones who said things like “Nusrat Jahan did Sindoor Khela with Nikhil Jain in front of Goddess Durga and now she says he’s not her Husband. Bengali people are not offended with such lies by TMC MP?” The communal accusation was extended to even hinting that she ‘faked’ a marriage and wore symbols of a Hindu bride to lure the community votes.
Nusrat Jahan had won her maiden elections in Basirhat Parliamentary constituency with a margin of 3.5 lakh votes defeating Sayantan Basu of Bharatiya Janata Party and Quazi Abdur Rahim of Congress. The seat, by then, had been established as a TMC stronghold. That, however, does not matter to trolls.
Nusrat Jahan took oath in Parliament as “Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain”, now she says her marriage is not legal?
She lied on the floor of the House? https://t.co/zcjUXy2VNL pic.twitter.com/uqoCNfeFU1
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) June 9, 2021
ভোটের আগে তৃণমূলের মুসলিম প্রার্থী হিন্দু মতে হিন্দুকে ঘটা করে বিয়ে করলেন।
তারপর ভোটের পর কোনো অজানার দ্বারা গর্ভবতী হয়ে (খবরে যা দেখাচ্ছে) এখন বলছেন ওটা বিয়ে ছিলনা লিভ টুগেদার ছিল?
ভোটে জেতার জন্য এরা সব পারে।
এটাই হল তৃণমূলের চরিত্র, এরা অনুপ্রেরণায় সব পারে।#nusratjahan https://t.co/bILvnqAyni— Saroop Chattopadhyay স্বরূপ চট্টোপাধ্যায় ?? (@KOLLEO) June 9, 2021
This is the second combined online targeting of Nusrat Jahan MP, who in 2020, had alleged that she was getting death threats for dressing up as Hindu goddess Durga. She had posted a video to celebrate Mahalaya, or the commencement of Durga Puja in her native West Bengal. After the threats Jahan, who was then in London for a film shoot, had reportedly written to the Indian embassy there to provide her with security. She had reportedly stated, “I would like to inform you that I reached London two days back on my professional purpose and after reaching here I have received a death threat via my social media pages from some fundamentalists who belong to India and neighbouring country. During my stay in London I require an immediate police protection as the threat is very serious and it is affecting my mental health. I would request you to kindly arrange to provide me a necessary protection in London.”
While it is only Jahan who is facing hate online, her estranged partner Nikhil Jain told India Today that he has filed for an annulment in Kolkata and admitted that the two have been separated since November 2020.
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