Dangal starlet Zaira Wasim takes down Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Twitter, and rightly so

About a week ago, very few people knew Zaira Wasim by name. Point out to a poster of Dangal, though, and everyone would recognize the actress portraying a young Geeta Phogat on screen.

However, thanks to her rendezvous with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti--and the subsequent social media trolling--the 16-year-old actress has been making news.

Also read: Dangal star Zaira Wasim apologizes for meeting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. But why?

The hullabaloo caused by the meeting got the attention of a lot of prominent personalities. Some, like co-star Aamir Khan, and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah, came to her defence. While, others, like Union minister Vijay Goel tried to cash in on Wasim's name on Twitter and got trolled mercilessly.

A couple of days ago, after inaugurating the India Art fest, the Sports Minister, took to Twitter to share a photograph of a painting featuring a woman in hijab next to a woman trapped in a cage. While the picture in itself is innocuous, his words are a different story altogether.

 

This painting tells a story similar to @zairawasim, ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ??? | More power to our daughters!
2/2 pic.twitter.com/RaolLKrZeg

- Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) January 19, 2017

 

Goel decided to use the painting as a metaphor for Wasim's recent comments, and indirectly commended for breaking out of the "cage" . While he never said it clearly, his words along with that pictured seemed to insinuate that women wearing hijab or burqa are trapped.

Wasim, however, was having none of it. She responded to the minister in a series of epic tweets, shutting him down.

 

@VijayGoelBJP Sir, with all respect to you, I feel I must disagree. I request you not to connect me to such a discourteous depiction. (1/3) https://t.co/BIgWVstqZh

- Zaira Wasim (@zairawasim) January 20, 2017

 

 

@VijayGoelBJP Women in hijab are beautiful and free (2/3)

- Zaira Wasim (@zairawasim) January 20, 2017

 

 

@VijayGoelBJP Moreover, the story depicted through this painting is not even remotely relevant to mine. (3/3)

- Zaira Wasim (@zairawasim) January 20, 2017

 

Of course, after being slammed by a teenager--and rightly so--Goel once again to took to Twitter. This time to defend himself, because apparently he was misunderstood.

 

You have interpreted wrong. I appreciated your work and stated that evil and patriarchal notions must be discouraged. https://t.co/OPBy5EZifN

- Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) January 20, 2017

 

 

I'm afraid you still haven't understood. But I wish you all the very best and appreciate your work. Hope to meet & interact too. https://t.co/h2RK3K3zIB

- Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) January 20, 2017

Misinterpreted or not, it is abundantly clear that even our ministers are not immune from resorting to such cheap attention tactics. But we do agree with Mr Goel on one point though: More power to you, Zaira Wasim. Definitely more power to you.