Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Dec 20 (NT): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday criticized its Madhya Pradesh MLA Panna Lal Shakya for questioning the patriotism of Indian Skipper Virat Kohli for having a preference Italy over India to get wedded.

BJP leader S.Prakash asserted it is not Shakya's business to ask about Kohil's patriotism.

Averring that Shakya should put right his ways and not blemish party's image by making such unprovoked statements Prakash stated, "The MLA who made this statement has no business to question the patriotism of Virat Kohli or Anushka Sharma, it is their preference to get married where ever they wanted to. The MLA who has made this statement has no right to blemish the image of the BJP and I hope he mends his way."

During the inauguration ceremony of a 'Skill India Centre' in Guna Madhya Pradesh yesterday, Shakya, said: "Virat earned money in India but he didn't find any place to get married in the nation. Is Hindustan untouchable?"

"Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Vikramaditya, Yudhishthir got married on this land. You all must have got married here. None of us goes to a foreign nation to get wedded, he (Virat Kohli) earned money here and spent billions there (Italy), he doesn't have any respect for the nation. This proves he is not a patriot."

Virat and Anushka got wedded last week at a private ceremonial event in Tuscany, Italy. (NT)