“Why am I expected to be in my constituency every day of the year?” – Hema Malini angrily hits out at her detractors

By Subhash K. Jha -

September 8, 2016 - 1:36 PM IST

For those of her critics who feel Hema Malini is not spending enough time in her constituency Mathura, there is news. The very beautiful parliamentarian claims she spends more time in her constituency than most of her politician- colleagues.

“Why am I expected to be in my constituency every day of the year?” – Hema Malini angrily hits out at her detractors

"I've other commitments too. I am a wife and a mother and I am a dancer and an actress. Am I expected to forget all my other duties? Still, I spend more time in Mathura than anywhere else. And yet there is uproar the minute I start shooting for a film. Arrey, every MP has other responsibilities, not just me. Why am I being targeted?" the fiercely outspoken Hema Malini wonders aloud.

She draws attention to the furore that was whipped by what she considers vested interests in Mathura when in the first week of June this year fierce clashes broke out in the holy city between a religious sect that occupied a 260-acre plot illegally, and the local administration assigned to clear the land.

Says Hema Malini, "I made the mistake of tweeting that I was shooting. Phir kya ttha (that was it). I became this merry reveller having a good time while my constituency burnt. I was committed to the shooting from long before. The administration was fully into attending to the problem. It wasn't as if I had abandoned my constituency. I can never do that. I care too much for Mathura to let the cynics and trouble makers get to me. A section of the local media is constantly questioning me about my intentions, motives, action, etc. I'm answerable only to the Prime Minister and to my constituency."

The ever-insouciant actress-parliamentarian says she will go ahead with her progress plans for Mathura, come what may. "Everyone will see the results of my work in Mathura in two years. I promise you. It takes time for development and change in constituency. I had to undo many of the wrong things in my constituency. I am not in politics for power or money. I've been in love with Mathura, the birthplace of my favourite deity Lord Krishna, from childhood."

Hemaji doesn't know whether to be amused annoyed or flattered when she gets distress calls from other constituencies. "I am approached by people asking for help in Aligarh, Faridabad and even Bulandshahr. I have to remind them these cities are not part of my constituency. But I am happy that people in these areas have so much confidence in me. I don't intend to let them down."