A local Kashmiri Cricket club has sparked a controversy after they wore Pakistani Jersey and sang their national anthem, ‘Pak Sarzamin Shad Bad’ before the start of a match on 2nd April. This video went viral in hours of being surfaced on the internet and has left people questioning the meaning of ‘India as a Democracy’.
Not very long ago, JNU, one of the most reputed Universities in India, was subjected to a similar controversy when anti-national slogans were raised during a theatrical performance. People came on roads, riots were triggered and all we saw on news channels were debate over was it right or wrong? What kind of consequences should the culprits face? And whether the Indian Democracy is so weak that anyone can say anything and would be shielded by the right to speak?
We as Indians, tend to forget these type of issues as soon as media does, and that’s in our nature, there is nothing wrong with that. Life is all about moving on, Right?
But it has happened again and as absurd as it may sound, the Kashmiri Cricket club has played a game donning Pakistani jerseys and even sang their National Anthem. The players were from the Baba Darya Ud Din team, named after a saint whose shrine is situated in Ganderbal.
The cricket match was played at the Wayil playfield in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, on April 2, which happened to be the same day when a hartal was called by separatists against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state for the inauguration of Nashri tunnel.
The commentator even announced that the Pakistani National Anthem will be played as a “mark of respect”. (seriously??). Mark Of Respect to Whom???? Those who have killed your brothers or destroyed your homes??
Here is the Video:
(Video Source: Life Okay)
And when they were questioned over their absurd act, the answer that they had, left us angry and feeling pitiful at the same time. These guys don’t care what is happening to their family (nation), they live in Kashmir and all they care about is Kashmir.
This is what they said, “We wanted our team to look different and also wanted to show fellow Kashmiris that we haven’t forgotten Kashmir issue, so we found this particular theme as most appropriate and catchy”.
“Why should we be scared when Kashmir is a disputed territory and Allah is with us? We have not harmed anyone but just played cricket the way we wanted to with all the creativity and relevance to our homeland.”
We wonder how authorities react to this and whether they too will be shielded with the ‘Rights’ that the Indian Constitution has given them or will they be punished for speaking their mind (pun)?
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