Twitter erupts after Pakistan ad mocks IAF pilot Abhinandan ahead of India World Cup clash
After a Pakistan TV channel telecast an advertisement mocking IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Indian fans on social media have gone crazy and termed it as racist and insensitive. The advertisement shows a character impersonating Abhinandan while an interrogator asks him cricket related questions.
In the 33-second video, the character can be seen sipping tea from a cup just like Abhinandan’s did while in captive. The character sports Abhinandan’s signature handlebar beard and replies his famous answer, “I am sorry, I am not supposed to tell you this.” Ever since the video was released it has gone viral on social media with people reacting to it differently.
Jazz TV advt on #CWC19 takes the Indo-Pak air duel to new level. It uses the air duel over Nowshera and Wing Co Abhinandan Varthaman's issue as a prop. @IAF_MCC @thetribunechd @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/30v4H6MOpU
— Ajay Banerjee (@ajaynewsman) June 11, 2019
A Twitter user wrote, “Abhinandan’s Capture Mocked in Racist Pakistani Ad For World Cup Clash Against India.” While another user wrote, “Abhinandan’s Capture Mocked in Racist #Pakistani Ad For World Cup Clash Against #India. This is how #racism, #nationalism and #sports combines to produce toxic outcomes. Entirely unnecessary. #CWC2019.”
Abhinandan’s Capture Mocked in Racist Pakistani Ad For World Cup Clash Against India.
— Kashmir First (@_Kashmir_First) June 11, 2019
How's this @StarSportsIndiahttps://t.co/FmIebDZHuk
Abhinandan’s Capture Mocked in Racist #Pakistani Ad For World Cup Clash Against #India. This is how #racism, #nationalism and #sports combines to produce toxic outcomes. Entirely unnecessary. #CWC2019 #crickethttps://t.co/7gcMx2CxjI
— Swati Parashar (@swatipash) June 11, 2019
This is shameful.
— Ritayan Basu | ঋতায়ন বসু (@ritayanbasu) June 11, 2019
Please just let this be a cricket match. This is beyond just simple banter. #CWC19#INDvPAK https://t.co/shsUrYpCHl
Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured in Pakistan after his Mig 21 bison aircraft was shot down by Pakistan Air Force. The incident happened a day after India conducted a cross-border strike on alleged terrorist camp. The strike was in retaliation of Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans in Jammu & Kashmir.
India will play its arch-rival Pakistan on June 16 at Old Trafford, Manchester and a fun trivia about the clash is that the men in blue have never lost a World Cup match against Pakistan.
Also read: Pakistan 'racist' ad mocks IAF's Abhinandan Varthaman before India clash; see video
First published: 11 June 2019, 17:02 IST