BJP MP Gopal Shetty does it again, says Christians played no role in India's freedom struggle

Mumbai, July 6: BJP MP from Mumbai Gopal Shetty has stirred a controversy yet again by saying that Christians did not contribute to the freedom struggle. He also reportedly claimed that it was only the Hindus and the Muslims who played a role in India's freedom struggle and not the Christians.

Addressing a gathering during the Eid-E-Milad organised by the Shia Kabrastan Committee at Malvani in Malad in Mumbai on Sunday, Shetty reportedly said, "Christians were British, hence they didn't participate in the freedom movement. India was not freed by Hindus or Muslims, we fought as one, as Hindustanis for our independence."

Shetty is not new to controversies. In February 2016, Shetty had triggered a controversy after he compared suicides of farmers to "fashion" and "trend" to end lives. "Not all farmers' suicides happen due to unemployment and starvation. A fashion is going on. A trend is on," Shetty, who represents north Mumbai, had said.

Shetty later defended himself and said, "I wanted to say that there is a fashion of giving compensation to farmers committing suicide," adding, "Instead of using word competition I said fashion."

Soon after demonetisation was announced in November 2016, Shetty drew flak for his insensitive remark on deaths of people in bank queues. Commenting on deaths, Shetty had said "kuchh pane ke liye, kuchh khona padta hai." (To get something, you have to lose something).