Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle Friday spoke up for tennis star Sania Mirza, who was at the receiving end of criticism on her appointment as Telangana's brand ambassador, saying it's an "unneccessary controversy".

"Sania Mirza is being dragged into unnecessary controversy. I too was once labelled anti-national by a politician. I found that quite funny," Asha tweeted Thursday.

On Wednesday, Telangana BJP leader K. Laxman had criticised the state for appointing Mirza its brand ambassador saying she is a non-local and "daughter-in-law" of Pakistan.


Veteran actress and social activist Shabana Azmi too took to Twitter to express her views on the same.

She tweeted: "From d start I said reining in its lunatic fringe will b a challenge for @narendramodi Shiv Sena BJP MPs at it again Mhrstra Sadan n Sania. The true test of a liberal is when she is attacked by both Muslim and Hindu bigots. Javed and I constantly face the wrath of both. Terrific!"