Oshwira Plot Controversy: Why is Hema Malini still in BJP?

The natal charts of BJP and its celebrity MPs/Ministers don’t match too well. So for instance they have the motor mouth Shatrughan Sinha who is openly, unashamedly and unapologetically against the Party. They had the Ex Cricketer Kirti Azad who attacked Arun Jaitley as the latter was engaged in a high voltage duel with Delhi’s Dictator Arvind Kejriwal. They have the mercurial Smriti Irani who is not exactly a bad minister but is controversy’s favorite child. In the past they had Navjot Singh Sidhu, Ex Cricketer and Chief Justice of Laughter shows. Sidhu spent 40 odd days in the Big Boss house while the people of his constituency waited for their MP. And then we have Hema Malini in her heavily embroidered Sarees, still demonstrating the same dream girl charms while selling clean water and Ayurvedic products to people. Hema Malini is perhaps one of the worst MPs that BJP currently has. She belongs to the elite list of terrible MPs that have the power and the potential to bring down an entire government all by themselves.

Not long back, Hema Malini was involved in an accident which claimed the life of a 4 year old. The kid died a silent and unnoticed death even as hordes of Plastic Surgeons and doctors rushed to take care of an injured Hema Malini. Less than a week after the accident, Hemaji took to Twitter to put the blame of the accident on the victim’s father.

Here is what she said:

Compassion followed by blame. Superb. Police arrested Hemaji’s driver and a fact must be noted. Police won’t arrest the driver of an MP unless they have conclusive evidences to prove that the driver was at fault. But all of this didn’t matter to Hema Malini and hence the Tweet.

And now she is back with her Oshiwara plot controversy. Hema Malini received a 2,000-square metre plot of land in Oshiwara, Mumbai, for Rs. 70,000 (Yes you read that right), when it’s actual value was more than Rs. 40 crore. These are the findings of a Right to Information query. The RTI was filed by RTI activist Anil Galgani before the Mumbai suburban collector. Hema Malini was given another piece of land in 1997. She had some fantastic plans for the plot which couldn’t materialize because of some coastal regulations. Both the plots are registered in the name of Natyavihar Kala Kendra, an organization that Hema Malini runs. The RTI Query further revealed that Hema Malini was explicitly advised to return the plot that she bought in 1997 before applying for a new one to which she didn’t comply. Hemaji purchased the Oshiwara land to set up a Dance academy at a cost of 18.5 Crores. And as per norms she was supposed to furnish details of at least 25% of those funds. She declared 3.5 Crores, 1.125 Crores less than what 25% of 18.5 Crores comes out to be. The numbers have been taken from an Economic Times Report.

It is therefore clear as Arvind Kejriwal’s incompetence as a CM, that lot many things are not right. And this case puts the integrity of an otherwise fabulous Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis under scanner. Why were so many rules flouted? Who authorized the transactions? Why is the Maharashtra Government, BJP Maharashtra Unit and BJP as a party observing a stoic silence over the whole episode? The way I see it is no different a Vadra Land Grab, or a Madhu Koda Land Grab or well…the National Herald Case. BJP needs to come out and issue a statement against the lawbreakers because otherwise the goodwill of a party whose entire cavalcade runs on the fuel of goodwill will take a major beating. I am sure the case is sub-judiced and things will be clearer after the evidences are verified thoroughly but the conspicuous silence makes the party look bad and for Hema Malini – You have been a superstar, a dance sensation, a brand ambassador and now a MP. But at the end of the day, you are one of us and every single rule that applies to us, APPLIES TO YOU.