Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik has launched a stunning criticism against India’s super-rich by what appeared to be a direct attack on Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Likening them to a bag of rotten potatoes, Malik accused India’s super-rich of not spending any money on charity or the welfare of youth, police personnel and soldiers. The video of Malik’s extraordinary speech has now gone viral on social media.
Speaking at this year’s 50th International Film Festival of India, Malik told the packed audience of film stars and other prominent personalities, “In India, what’s being shown aren’t the only things that are actually taking place. A lot of things are invisible. India still has poverty, joblessness…. In big cities, there’s something called a backpack. Thousands of youth everyday carry those backpacks as they wander around hunting for jobs.”
“This is the same condition for our farmers. I’ve seen the plight of soldiers personally. You guys keep giving speeches and showing support for them by sitting here. In your country, there are people, who own 14-floor house. One floor is dedicated for dogs, another is earmarked for drivers, but they wouldn’t pay a single paise on charity for our soldiers.”
Mukesh and Nita Ambani own a multi-storey residence in South Mumbai called Antilia, which is reported to have dedicated floors for car-park, cinema, helipads and guests.
Calling the occupants of the ’14-floor’ house ‘rotten potatoes,’ Malik said, “These people spend no money for education, soldiers, police personnel or youth. World’s super-rich such as Lord (Sir Bob) Geldof, people from music or the Microsoft man (Bill Gates), all of them dedicate a large part of their earnings for charity. But the rich in our country, who I don’t even consider humans. I liken them to a bag full of rotten potatoes.”
Malik was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir before being transferred to Goa. As for the Ambanis, they were recently seen attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Maharashtra headed by the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress.
This is not the first time, Malik has targeted Ambani for his extravagant lifestyle. According to news agency ANI, speaking at a function organised to mark the Flag Day celebrations in Jammu last year, Malik had said that the money the millionaire spent for his daughter’s lavish marriage ceremony could have been used for opening 700 schools in Jammu and Kashmir or given to 7,000 widows of slain Army personnel to raise their children. Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha got married to Anand Piramal in December last year.
