Family in Mumbai roots for Leo Varadkar
Maharashtra is quietly celebrating an event in distant Ireland. On Saturday, as 38-year-old Leo Varadkar was elevated as the Prime Minister of Ireland, his extended family in Mumbai and Varad Gaon at Malvan in the Konkan region of the state broke out in cheers.
A doctor by profession, Leo was always interested in politics, reforms and social change. Leo’s cousin Shekhar Varadkar who lives in Borivali (East) told Free Press Journal, “Leo was always keen on doing something good for the people. He quickly climbed the ladder of success in the politics of Ireland by doing something good for the people.”
A self-declared gay, Leo fought hard to get Ireland to legalise gay marriages. He was never hesitant to make public his sexual orientation and became the first Irish minister to do so. Shubhada Varadkar, Leo’s cousin sister, said, “We have accepted him as he is and supported him in all his endeavours. We never dreamt that he would reach the pinnacle of political glory.”
The Varadkar family celebrated Leo’s success both in Mumbai and in their native village with traditional Malvani food and mangoes. “Although Leo’s family is in Ireland, we have been constantly helping him in his campaign through the social media. Some of us will probably go to Ireland once he is becomes the PM of that country,” Subhadra said.