Hema Malini draws flak from NGOs over her remark on Vrindavan widows

New Delhi, Sep 18: Terming MP

's statement about widows of Vrindavan as "insensitive", the

working for them have said that this has "broken the heart" of thousands of widows who had many hopes from the actor-turned- politician.

Hema, a Member of Parliament from Mathura, had made a controversial remark saying the widows from Bengal and Bihar should not crowd Vrindavan, the holy city in Uttar Pradesh home to thousands of destitute women.

She had also said, "Vrindavan widows have a bank balance, good income, nice beds, but they beg out of habit." Mohini Giri, the chairperson of NGO Guild of Service, which runs Amar Bari ashram in Vrindavan, has said that this statement has "broken the heart" of thousands of widows who had many hopes from Hema.

"This is very insensitive statement. Why only widows are targeted. What is the dignity and status of a widow. We are not going to tolerate this," the veteran social activist said.

"Tomorrow someone will say that you are also widow and you are from Andhra so go back to your state. What will I do then? Is this we expect in our country. My widows are crying. They has a lot of hopes from Hema who is not able to understand their condition despite being a woman," she said.

Giri claimed that she wrote three letters to the Bollywood actress but did not get any prompt reply.

"She is an MP so she should ensure governance and social security to widows. I have written three letters to her and yesterday got her only reply that talk to my PA. I am now going to stay ahead and see that no widow is touched. We must provide them security, shelter and dignity," she said.

Giri also claimed that these widows, living for decades in Vrindavan, do not want to go back to their place.

PTI