Sania's heart not Indian as it beats for a Pakistani: Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Friday came down heavily on tennis star Sania Mirza for her decision to marry Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. He stated in an editorial in his party organ 'Saamna' that ideally it should not concern anyone with whom Sania is in love and whom she wants to marry. But since Shoaib is a Pakistani, for him India is an "enemy nation" both in cricket and war, he maintained.

"Had Sania's heart been truly Indian, it wouldn't have beaten for a Pakistani," Thackeray said. The Sena chief also took objection to the statement of Sania's family that she would continue to play tennis for India even after marrying a Pakistani.

"How can this be allowed? She will become a Pakistani citizen after marriage and there is no way she can play for India. For the sake of marriage, she goes to Pakistan, but for fame and fortune she wants to play for India. This cannot be tolerated," he asserted. Thackeray also ridiculed Sania saying that only she and Shoaib knew what her achievements were as a tennis player. She was more known for her "tight clothes, fashion and love affairs and games of a different kind," Thackeray alleged. He noted that in the past Islamic religious scholars had objected to her wearing short skirts. He wondered if she would now play tennis wearing a burqa in a "Talibanised Pakistan."

Thackeray also expressed surprise over the speed with which Sania's family was granted visas by the Pakistani government.

"Even an artiste of the stature of Lata Mangeshkar could not get a Pakistani visa, but Sania's family got it in a jiffy," he remarked.

Thackeray warned Sania that in the past Indian women like actress Reena Roy had a bitter experience after marrying Pakistanis and had to return to India highly disappointed.

Meanwhile, Muslim clerics here are divided over the legality of a 'nikah' or marriage performed over the telephone.

Hyderabad-resident Ayesha Siddiqui is reported to have married Shoaib over the telephone. Maulana Sayed Noorie of Raza Academy, a Sunni religious institution, said a 'nikah' over the phone was not valid.

He said as per Islamic law, the witnesses to the marriage should be physically present at the marriage and recognise the marrying couple. "How can the witnesses ascertain if the voice on the other end is indeed that of the groom?" he asked. "These days voice over the telephone can be tampered with," he pointed out. General secretary of the Ulema Council Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi said: "I for one do not understand why so much importance is being given to Sania's marriage. But, having said that, I wish to state that if the voice over the telephone is confirmed to be that of the bride and the groom, then the 'nikah' is valid.

However, such marriages are very rare." Maulana Zaheer Abbas said "Such marriages are permitted if the groom has a genuine difficulty in attending the function personally like transport problem or denial of leave from office."

Maulana Ather Ali said: "Ideally, the couple should be physically present at the 'nikah' along with the witnesses who should be Muslims of repute in full possession of their faculties. Telephone 'nikahs' are normally not considered as reliable. Video conferencing is also taboo."