Mumbai
oi-Swastika Sruti
A woman holding a placard that read “Hi! I am Aunty National” became one of the noticeable faces at a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
At Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, a protester called herself “Aunty National,” explaining it signifies age and patriotism, and stated nationalism requires working for public welfare, urging leaders to prioritize development and uphold voter trust.
Speaking to Oneindia, the woman explained why she chose the unusual phrase for her placard and shared her views on nationalism, politics and the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Her message was not about supporting any particular political party. Instead, she said political leaders should focus on the country’s interests rather than on slogans and rallies.
Why Did She Call Herself ‘Aunty National’?
When asked by Oneindia why she chose the words “Aunty National”, she explained that the phrase was a play on the commonly used term “anti-national”.
“Kyuki main aunty hoon, 50 years se upar hoon. Meri beti hai 30 saal ki aur main nationalist hoon, toh main Aunty National hoon,” she said.
She said the placard was meant to reflect both her age and her belief in the country.
For her, being a nationalist is not about supporting one political party. She said citizens should be concerned about the country’s welfare regardless of which party is in power.
#Oneindia Ground Report From #Shivajipark #Mumbai #Gyaneshkumar
Aunty National Speaks With @Oneindia pic.twitter.com/Nio871oO6V
— Swastika Sruti (@SrutiSwastika) October 2, 2026
‘Who Is Anti-National?’
When asked who she considers to be “anti-national”, the protester gave her own definition.
“Jo desh ki bhalai ka nahi sochte, woh anti-national hain,” she said.
She added that political parties should not be the centre of the discussion when the larger issue is the country’s development.
“Party chahe koi bhi ho, desh ke liye kaam karna chahiye,” she said, stressing that both political leaders and ordinary citizens have a responsibility towards the country.
Her comments reflected her view that nationalism should be linked to working for the public interest rather than simply supporting a political organisation.
‘Aam Aadmi Ko Justice Nahi Milti’
The protester also spoke about what she described as the problems faced by ordinary people in getting justice.
She alleged that people with political or institutional power protect those accused of crimes and questioned whether ordinary citizens receive equal treatment.
“Aaj aam aadmi ko justice nahi milti,” she said, adding that those who commit crimes sometimes appear to have the protection of people in positions of power.
She further criticised what she sees as the focus on political slogans and rallies instead of issues affecting citizens.
According to her, the government should give greater attention to public concerns and accountability.
Her Message To PM Modi
When asked what message she would like to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the woman spoke about trust between voters and elected leaders.
“Don’t sell your soul for power, money and the kursi,” she said.
She added that people had elected leaders on the basis of trust and warned that breaking that trust could have political consequences.
“Humne aapko bharose se chuna hai, uss bharose ko todna matlab aap gaye,” she said.
Her remarks were part of the wider voices heard at the Shivaji Park protest, where participants expressed their concerns and political views through slogans, placards and speeches.
The “Aunty National” placard stood out for turning a familiar political phrase into a personal statement about age, nationalism and a citizen’s expectations from those in power.
