Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Raja Singh has made a controversial statement over tennis star Sania Mirza demanding she must be removed as the brand ambassador of Telangana state.

The statement comes just days after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district that claimed the life of 49 Central Reserve Police Force jawans.

Sania Mirza is married to a Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

In a video doing rounds on social media, Raja Singh said, "Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao took a decision that he would not celebrate his birthday (which fell on February 17) to extend condolences to the troopers who were killed. However, I have another request to the Telangana CM. When several countries across the world, including India, want to cut ties with Pakistan, you also have one tie to break."

“You must revoke your decision that made Sania Mirza the brand ambassador of Telangana immediately. Because in Telangana itself, there are many good players,” he said, referring the names of VVS Laxman, PV Sindhu, and Saina Nehwal.  

“They have won many medals for Telangana and India. We don’t need to make a Pakistani daughter-in-law our brand ambassador,” the Goshamahal legislator added.

In her statement on Sunday, Sania had said, "I don't need to condemn an attack publicly, or come and scream from rooftops all over social media that we are against terrorism... of course we are against terrorism and anyone that spread it... any person in their right mind is against terrorism and if they are not then that's a problem!! I play for my country, sweat for it and that's how I serve my country (sic)."

"I stand with the CRPF jawaans and their families, my heart goes out to them and they are our true heroes who protect our country... 14th February was a black day for India and I hope we never have to see another day like this, no amount of condolences can make any of this better...this day will not be forgotten and neither shall it be forgiven but YES I will still pray for peace and you should too instead of spreading more hate..anger is good as long as it's being channeled into something productive..you are achieving nothing by trolling other people..there was no place for terrorism in this world and there never will be (sic)," she had added.

We stand united#PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/Cmeij5X1On

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) February 17, 2019

Earlier too, Raja Singh has been repeatedly accused of making controversial statements and speeches, especially against Muslims.

-Sowmya Sangam