Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday lamented the stinginess of country’s millionaires and politicians who contribute nothing toward charity, calling them “rotten potatoes”.
He said such people lack sensitivity towards the society.
“They don’t give a single paisa in charity,” Malik said at a function organised to mark culmination of ‘Flag Day’ celebrations by the Rajya Sainik Board. Without naming him, Malik especially targeted Mukesh Ambani for having spent crores on the wedding of his daughter recently.
“Recently one of the country’s richest men, as per reports spent Rs 700 crore on his daughter’s lavish marriage ceremony and when he was asked by a reporter whether he contributes to charity he replied he did not because he is earning for the country only,” he said.
“For me the rich of the country who do not contribute toward charity are like rotten potatoes and people living in villages, farmers, labourers are much better than them,” the Governor said.
He said with the Rs 700 crore Ambani reportedly spent on daughter’s wedding, 700 new schools could have been constructed in J&K and 7000 war widows could have provided their children quality education.
He said that in Kashmir also many politicians and bureaucrats have millions but not the “sensitivity towards the society”.
He said the people should contribution more towards the Flag Day Fund and the “nation must remember its martyrs and visit their families regularly”.
“I came here after doing politics in Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh and never saw a village without a statue or portrait of martyrs not installed,” he said.
“Places and villages in which any jawan has made sacrifice towards the nation is in the real sense a site for pilgrimage,” he said, adding no country becomes great because of its bridges or buildings.
“If India is third or fourth most powerful nation in the world it is because of its army. We should be proud of our army. The only sacred thing is martyrdom and if you are not able to sacrifice life for the country at least help them (forces) once a year and remember their sacrifices,” he said.
Malik said he used to live in Som Vihar area of New Delhi that was named after Major Somnath, the first recipient of the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra.
“It was only because of his sacrifice Kashmir Airport was saved (in 1947),” he said and added that the “nation must be indebted to the Indian army”.
“When people warm themselves in front of a heater, sit in a quilt and enjoy peanuts while watching their televisions at that time our jawans are standing tall in knee-deep snow in places like Siachen Glacier to protect our country from the enemy,” said Malik.