On Saturday, chairman of Essel Group and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra said no media outlet of Zee will cover the ICC Champions Trophy game between India and Pakistan.
Chandra said the media organisation has decided to do this in “support of our armed forces”.
Chandra made the announcement in a series of tweets, starting with condemning the holding of the match in the first place:
BCCI should have refused to play with Pakistan, which would have given strong message globally, after all its money which they care about
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 3, 2017
If Afghan can stop cricketing ties with Pak post Kabul attack then what is the need for us to continue after numerous terrorists attacks
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
He then shared why exactly he is doing this:
Producers stopped casting Pak actors, similarly, Pak banned our TV programs (1/2)
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Govt made it clear that terror and talks can’t go together then how come terror and cricket can go together (2/2)
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Zee News, Zee Hindustan, WION, DNA and all other news channels from Zee Media will not be covering any news about India Pak match
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
None of the portals, apps, newspaper, and news channels will report about the match in support of our armed forces.
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Chandra further announced that Zee will cover the armed forces instead:
Rather we will show the stories of actual heroes who will be fighting for us even when our cricket team will be playing with enemy
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Let’s tell our Army that the people for whom they risk their life are more interested in supporting them than cheering for cricket match
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
We can’t be selective in our patriotism where at one end we outrage over Pak actors in our movies and at other hand we play cricket
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
We’ll have the special series for entire Champions Trophy except India Vs Pak. In this match, we’re supporting the Indian Army.
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017