I am an Indian and will always remain so until the end: Sania Mirza

"I'm an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life. My family belongs to Hyderabad for more than a century and I strongly condemn any attempts by any person to brand me an outsider," Mirza said.

"It hurts me that so much precious time of prominent politicians and the media is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed the Brand Ambassador of my State of Telangana. I sincerely believe that this precious time should be spent on solving the more urgent issues of our State and country," Sania Mirza added.

Mirza's statement came a day after Telangana BJP leader K. Laxman accused the state government of appointing Mirza its brand ambassador and giving her a grant.