On 4th July, Congress supporter Roshan Kumar Rai attributed a deceptive quote on Manipur to the Captain of the Indian Football Team, Sunil Chhetri. The quote was later picked by Live Hindustan and made its method to the print version on fifth July.
Live Hindustan carried a deceptive quote to Sunil Chhetri. Source: Liev Hindustan epaper
In the now-deleted-tweet, Rai wrote, “Sunil Chhetri, Indian captain after winning #SAFFChampionship2023: This win is dedicated to my people in Manipur, Manipur loves football, and it pains me to see what’s happening there; I hope Manipur unitedly celebrates this win. What a champ, what a player, what a citizen.”
Congress IT Cell’s @RoshanKrRaii unfold Fake News on Twitter.
Hindustan Newspaper @Live_Hindustan used the faux quote and unfold Congress propaganda to its enormous reader base.
This is why Indian Journalism is ranked the worst. pic.twitter.com/qxn5ZgAd9q
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) July 5, 2023
Twitter consumer Ankur Singh shared a screenshot of the tweet. OpIndia has contacted Chhetri’s administration crew to get an official assertion on the controversy, as we couldn’t discover any genuine supply of the quote that was attributed to him. Once we obtain a reply from them, the story might be up to date.
The tweet, although deleted by Rai, was revealed at 10:36 PM. When we searched the textual content on Twitter, we discovered that the oldest tweet with the identical nonetheless accessible textual content was revealed at 10:43 PM by an AAP supporter named Gurbinder Singh.
#SAFFChampionship2023 #SunilChhetri, Indian captain after profitable #SAFFChampionship2023 : This win is devoted to my individuals in Manipur, Manipur loves soccer and it pains me to see what’s taking place there, I hope Manipur unitedly celebrates this win.
What a champ, what a participant pic.twitter.com/mKQ4kNJ4Ti
— Gurbinder Sandhu (@gurbinder44567) July 4, 2023
The Meitei Heritage Society and a troll Twitter account Niiravmodi additionally revealed it.
Sunil Chhetri, Indian captain after profitable #SAFFChampionship2023 : This win is devoted to my individuals in Manipur, Manipur loves soccer and it pains me to see what’s taking place there, I hope Manipur unitedly celebrates this win.
What a champ, what a participant, what a citizen… pic.twitter.com/B83vNXaWrw
— Meitei Heritage Society (@meiteiheritage) July 4, 2023
The latest incident of the Salai Taret flag being hoisted by Indian soccer gamers and followers over the Indian National Flag raises severe issues and requires quick consideration. Such an act is very disrespectful to our National Flag and sends a improper message concerning the… pic.twitter.com/gvIy9QGCjT
— Zogam Mosi (@LianGuite1231) July 4, 2023
The controversy round Jaekson Singh Thounaojam
Though Chhetri was apparently misattributed to the quote, an announcement on Manipur was given by one other soccer participant Jaekson Singh Thounaojam who hails from Manipur. After profitable the sport, Jaekson was seen carrying the Meitei flag, which resulted in an uproar over social media. The flag worn by him was the Flag of Kangleipak or Salai Taret Flag, which represents the seven clan dynasties of the Meitei ethnicity of Ancient Manipur. Twitter consumer Lian Guite stated, “the flag hoisted by Indian football players and fans over the Indian National Flag raises serious concerns and calls for immediate action” because it “sends a wrong message about the unity and patriotism of the individuals involved”.
The latest incident of the Salai Taret flag being hoisted by Indian soccer gamers and followers over the Indian National Flag raises severe issues and requires quick consideration. Such an act is very disrespectful to our National Flag and sends a improper message concerning the… pic.twitter.com/gvIy9QGCjT
— Zogam Mosi (@LianGuite1231) July 4, 2023
Speaking to ESPN’s Shyam Vasudevan, Jeakson stated, “It’s my Manipur flag. I just wanted to… what’s happening in Manipur…I just wanted to tell everyone in India and Manipur to stay in peace and not fight. I want peace. It’s been 2 months now, and still, fighting is going on. I don’t want that kind of thing to happen more, and I just want to bring the government’s and other people’s attention to get peace, you know. My family is safe, but there are a lot of families who have suffered and lost their home and all. Yeah, it’s difficult now…even for me, it’s difficult to go back home now with the situation…even I don’t know what’s going to happen. I hope things get well soon.”
I spoke to @JeaksonT on the flag he carried on the prize ceremony. Here’s what he stated ⤵️#SAFFChampionship2023 | #KUWIND | #IndianFootball | @ESPNIndia pic.twitter.com/f0gZuFbvwW
— Shyam Vasudevan (@JesuisShyam) July 4, 2023
Following the uproar, Jaekson took on Instagram and apologised for it and stated he solely wished to convey consideration in direction of what was taking place in his house state. He added there was no intention to harm anybody’s sentiments. “
He wrote, “By celebrating within the flag, I didn’t wish to harm the emotions of anybody. I supposed to convey discover to the problems that my house state, Manipur, is at present going through. This win tonight is devoted to all of the Indians. I hope that peace returns to my house state of Manipur. Thank you to the followers for popping out and supporting the crew tonight!
On July 4, the Indian Football crew led by Sunil Chhetri defeated Kuwait in a penalty shootout to win the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship for the ninth time.