"Shameful and a Disgrace": Sunil Chhetri Lashes Out against Racism towards NE Indians

Bangalore, April 3, 2020:

Sunil Chhetri, the Indian football team's captain, in a scathing attack against racism towards Northeast Indians in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, apologized to the victims on "behalf of the whole country."

In a recent video interview, Chhetri said that the racism in the time of the coronavirus is "not just right" and termed it as "shameful" and a "disgrace".

"Imagine if you are the one who is doing it. Imagine if the virus originated from a place where people look like you or your region. And let's suppose you are working in Arunachal Pradesh or Assam or Sikkim or any Northeast State or city and people hound you or bully you or tyrouble you, how will you feel?", Chhetri asked the racists, asking them how they would feel if the tables were turned.

ALSO READ: With 1 Isolation Bed per 11,000 People and 1 ICU Bed per 71,000, Assam Prepares to Fight COVID-19

"It doesn't take much science or maths to understand this", Chhetri chides 'racists', and calls their behaviour "stupid."

We as footballers stand strictly against racism, Chhetri said,"We are very proud that our country has so many different places so many different people and this is something that we should celebrate, not degraded like this."

Chhetri further pointed to a recent incident in which Naga youths were not let into a grocery shop in Mysuru. "They are already being troubled as we all are. Everyone has to maintain so many things. Then they go to a supermarket and are harassed like that. This is not nice", he said.

and called for unity at a time when the coronavirus or COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across "I know its just a a handful of people, I have full faith and trust in my countrymen, but whoever is doing it just put some brains man."

Terming the coronavirus as a "monster" Chhetri said "we don't need to make our own issues". Chhetri further apologized to the people who are facing the "bullying and the hounding and the trouble". The few men who are doing this do not represent the country, he said.

ALSO READ: 20 from Assam Test Positive for COVID-19; Northeast Cases Rise to 24

Chettri further apologized to the people who have been harassed for their mongoloid look on behalf of the entire country and expressed hope that it will eventually come to a halt.

Chhetri, in the video, also urged people "who can" to stay at home and also urged people to donate and arrange food and amenities for those who are roaming around in need of food.

With the coronavirus pandemic keeping Indians at home amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown, the focus of India’s Northeast has shifted to the incidents of crass racism that have come to define these dark times for many in these parts. After many such incidents, with the Northeast the receiving end, many of the prominent personalities from the region – including the Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Nagaland – have voiced concerns over the issue.

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