Poet and former politician Kumar Vishwas has sparked a heated debate following his remarks seemingly directed at veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha and his daughter, actress Sonakshi Sinha. Speaking at a poetry event in Meerut, Vishwas took an indirect swipe at the Sinha family, particularly targeting Sonakshi’s interfaith marriage to actor Zaheer Iqbal. His comments focused on the importance of instilling cultural and traditional values in children through Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
What Kumar Vishwas said
A video from the event, now widely circulated online, captures Vishwas addressing the audience in his signature poetic tone. He stated, “Apne bachhon ko Sita Ji ki behnon aur Bhagwan Ram ke bhaiyon ke naam yaad karaiye. Ek sanket de raha hoon, jo samajh jayein unki taliyan uthtein. Apne bachhon ko Ramayan padhwayi aur Geeta sunwayi. Anya tha aisa na ho ki aapke ghar ka naam to ‘Ramayan’ ho aur aapke ghar ki Shree Lakshmi ko koi aur uthakar le jaye” (Teach your children the names of Sita Ji’s sisters and Lord Ram’s brothers. Here’s a hint – teach them the Ramayana and make them listen to the Gita. Otherwise, even though your house is named ‘Ramayan,’ someone else might take away the ‘Shree Lakshmi’ of your household). His remarks appeared to mock the Sinha family’s Mumbai residence, which is named ‘Ramayana.’
When Mukesh Khanna criticised Shatrughan Sinha
This is not the first time Sonakshi has been subject to public scrutiny. In the past, veteran actor Mukesh Khanna criticised Shatrughan Sinha, holding him accountable for not imparting cultural knowledge to his children. Khanna referenced an incident from an earlier episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, where Sonakshi failed to answer a question about Hanuman bringing the Sanjeevani Booti. He had remarked, “People were angry that Sonakshi didn’t know this, but I would say it’s not her fault—it’s her father’s fault. Why didn’t they teach their children this? Why did they become so modern? If I were Shaktimaan today, I would make kids sit down and teach them about Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma.”
Sonakshi and Shatrughan both had slammed Mukesh Khanna for his comment.
Vishwas’ comments have ignited a wave of criticism on social media. Many users have slammed his remarks as regressive and misogynistic. One user wrote, “She is an independent, educated woman who has chosen her own partner. But for people, women are mere objects who can be donated or picked up.” Another added, “And hate lives on.”