Support for the national cricket team or its players is no litmus test for patriotism
Allegedly . people celebrating the victory of Pakistan against India in T20 Cricket World Cup match on 24 October are facing the wrath of the state. These are all Muslims. In Rajasthan, a young schoolteacher has been sacked by a private school and the police have accused her of making ‘accusations prejudicial to national integration’ under Section 153B of the IPC. In Jammu and Kashmir, Police has registered two cases against Unknown person under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections. in Uttar Pradesh, Three students of Jammu and Kashmir have been accused of Under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 505 (making or publishing material intended to promote enmity) and later, under section 124A, sedition. The sense, propriety or acceptability of celebrating Pakistan’s victory is beyond question. From an ethical, tactical and practical point of view, this widespread policing is unwise. No democracy, not least a country of the size and diversity of India, can demand uniformity and conformity from its population on all questions and at all times. It is unlikely that any of these charges will stand up to judicial scrutiny, but that only makes the spectacle a ridiculous distraction to the expanding law enforcement system. Far from imposing national integration as the alleged objective of this heavy-handed police crackdown, it will derail young lives and create more resentment and social disharmony.
For a country like India with global ambitions, a constant loyalty test of citizens can be a self-defeating quest. People of Indian origin live across the world with divided loyalties. There are American citizens who chant victory for India at meetings in their home countries addressed by the Indian prime minister, and there are British and Australian citizens who sway their country in favor of India during sporting events. Sports teams around the world have members of foreign origin. Toxic hyper-nationalism in sports is poorly communicated in such a world; Much more for India. While the BJP has been supportive of this link between cricket and nationalism, other parties are not far behind, as evidenced by the incident in the Congress-ruled state of Rajasthan. AAP in Delhi was a step ahead and questioning the Narendra Modi government for allowing cricket matches with Pakistan. Had it all been because of an untold link between cheering for the national cricket team and support for Akhand Bharat, the police would also have accused those who mercilessly trolled Muslim Mohammed Shami in the Indian cricket team. True, it would have been wonderful for the Indian cricket team to enjoy the unqualified support of the entire country, but of course, there is no reason to accuse those supporting any other team of sedition. The Indian state seems silly now, and this whole episode is bad for cricket and the country.
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