Vijaykumar Gavit, the tribal development minister of Maharashtra and a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), has found himself in hot water after making controversial comments about fish consumption and beauty. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Gavit is heard making the remarks at a public event in Nandurbar district.
Gavit suggested that people who consume fish regularly develop smooth skin and sparkling eyes. He went on to mention Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the former Miss World and Bollywood actress, as an example. According to Gavit, Aishwarya Rai’s beauty is attributed to her daily fish consumption due to living near the seashore in Mangaluru.
He stated, “People who consume fish on a daily basis develop smooth skin and their eyes sparkle. If anyone looks at you, the person will get attracted (towards you). ‘Did I tell you about Aishwarya Rai? She lived near the seashore in Mangaluru. She would consume fish daily. Have you seen her eyes? You will also have eyes like her.'”
Gavit, who is 68 years old and the father of BJP’s Lok Sabha member Heena Gavit, further explained that fish contains oils that contribute to smooth skin.
However, his comments were met with criticism from fellow BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, who questioned the validity of Gavit’s claims. Nitesh Rane humorously remarked, “I eat fish daily. My eyes should have become like that (like those of Aishwarya Rai). I will ask Gavit sahib if there is any research on this.”
Members of the opposition party also criticized Gavit for making such remarks, urging him to focus on more substantial issues faced by the tribal community rather than indulging in such “frivolous” statements. This incident follows a recent controversy involving another MLA from the BJP who made comments about beauty in politics.
In recent weeks, MLA Sanjay Shirsat had made remarks about Aaditya Thackeray and Priyanka Chaturvedi. The political landscape in Maharashtra remains active, with comments and controversies often making headlines.