The craze of seeking social media attention makes people do the weirdest things. The sensitivity and the empathy one looks for in a champion were tossed out of the window when the much-adored cricket stars Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and others posted a video mocking people with disabilities.
The former India cricketers made a video from the dressing on Sunday, where cricket legends were seen dancing with ‘Tauba Tauba’ song from the newly-released Bollywood movie playing in the background. They were celebrating their win at the recently-concluded World Championship of Legends in Birmingham. Team India beat Pakistan in the final.
Wanting to show the physical toll on their bodies the tournament took on the veteran cricketers, they put up a video attempting the hook step of ‘Tauba Tauba’ song but by faking limping action. The video which is now deleted drew intense criticism from the disability rights group. The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) condemned the video as ‘totally disgraceful’. It is perplexing to note that the well-traveled and elite cricketers can stoop to such a level of buffoonery at the age they are, completely oblivious to the plight and trauma the differently abled face in day-to-day life in India. Harbhajan is 44 years old. Yuvraj Singh is 42.
Follwing the controversy, Harbhajan Singh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, issued an apology with the same tired phrases “We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments”
Differently-abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) General Secretary Ravi Chauhan also criticized the cricketers for mocking the differently-abled people. He said that the entire community feels hurt and disappointed by this deplorable video. Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi also criticised the cricketer for this video which ridiculed the walking patterns of individuals with disabilities.
The video is a shameful display of insensitiveness by cricketers considered national heroes by millions. The atrocious video is not only disgusting but also a sad commentary on the ethical compass of the elites in our society. It is clear that the cricketers in question forgot their social responsibility. Such videos endanger the pace of assimilation of people with disabilities in society and promote bullying. Sadly the video had gained over 20 million views and 1.5 million likes.
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