"I've come from Pakistan to cheer for my country and without saying 'Pakistan Zindabad', what else could I say to cheer my team?" asked the fan.
Published Oct 21, 2023 | 9:20 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2023 | 9:21 AM
A still from the now-viral video. (Screengrab)
In a major embarrassment to the city police, a policeman prohibited a Pakistani cricket fan from supporting his country by chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, 20 October.
The Pakistani fan’s encounter with the policeman was captured on camera by another fan sitting beside him and the video was shared across social media platforms. For obvious reasons, it went viral even before the match concluded.
Tagging the video, netizens trolled the “biggest democracy in the world”. “Oh wow! Is this the way it goes in the world’s biggest democracy? Good brother! Great show India, great show!” said a user on X.
The incident came close on the heels of a section of the crowd at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium chanting “Jai Sri Ram” at Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who was returning to the dugout.
Ooo acha ? Asiey chalta hai dunya ki sab se bari Democracy mai ? Bhai Wah! Great Show India, great show! 👏👏👏#PAKvsAUS #AusvPak #PAKvAUS #WC2023 pic.twitter.com/EhJTY2dAYQ
— Arsalan Naseer – CBA (@ArslanNaseerCBA) October 20, 2023
The incident happened during the World Cup Qualifier cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on 20 October. The video shows an assistant sub-inspector-ranked policeman, who seems to be the security in-charge of that particular gallery section, confronting a fan wearing a Pakistani team jersey and asking him not to chant “Pakistan Zindabad”.
In the video, the fan is heard arguing with the policeman and asking him why others could say “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” but he couldn’t say “Pakistan Zindabad”. The policeman replied that he could also say “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” with the others, but not “Pakistan Zindabad”.
Annoyed, the Pakistani fan quickly asked, “Why not!” He further tried to explain that he did the same thing in Ahmedabad during the Pakistan match there.
“I have come from Pakistan to cheer for my country. Without saying ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, what else could I say to cheer my team?” the fan asked desperately.
When the policeman stuck to his stand, the Pakistani fan told him that he was going to make a video of him and he had to answer his questions. The fan then pulled out his phone and started video-recording the policeman, and asked him to repeat that he could not chant “Pakistan Zindabad”.
At this point, the policeman is seen getting restless and he said that he has to speak to his senior officer. He then leaves the spot and another man with him, possibly one of the event organisers, is heard telling the fan “It’s good sir” and asking him to sit down.
When South First contacted Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shekhar H Tekkannavar for his reaction on the viral video, he said that he has not seen any video and offered no comment. “I am busy with bandobast duties, and I have not come across any video like that until now and hence no comments,” Tekkannavar said.
