Mumbai: As India celebrated the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, many celebrities took it to social media to congratulate the scientists of Indian space agency ISRO.
However, one such congratulatory wish by former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has displeased many people.
Taking to Twitter, the former India spinner took an indirect dig at Pakistan without mentioning its name.
“Some countries have moon on their flags. While some countries having their flags on moon,” the bowler tweeted, along with flags of countries that have the crescent moon on its flag. He also posted flags of the four countries, who have successfully carried out lunar missions.
Some countries have moon on their flags
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 22, 2019
🇵🇰🇹🇷🇹🇳🇱🇾🇦🇿🇩🇿🇲🇾🇲🇻🇲🇷
While some countries having their flags on moon
🇺🇸 🇷🇺 🇮🇳 🇨🇳#Chandrayaan2theMoon
Activist and CPI(ML) member Kavita Krishnan wrote a strong reply to Harbhajan. "May I disturb this bigoted story of yours with some reality? This is the Nepal flag, also with the crescent moon on it. Literally 'flagging' all 'Muslim' countries, is the essence of Islamophobic baiting & profiling," Krishnan wrote.
May I disturb this bigoted story of yours with some reality? This is the Nepal flag, also with the crescent moon on it. Literally 'flagging' all 'Muslim' countries, is the essence of Islamophobic baiting & profiling. Wish you cd learn from Sri Lankan cricketers & rise above this. pic.twitter.com/HMPkexOE2V
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) July 23, 2019
While some people considered Singh's tweet as a joke, others slammed his tweet saying it was 'racist' and 'Islamophobic' in nature.
What a shame, open bigotry. Reaching moon is not the best indicator for development. Some countries with moon on their flags are much ahead on HDI than others who have flags on moon.
— Jaini /উজà§à¦œà§Ÿà¦¿à¦¨à§€/ اجینی (@IchbinUjjaini) July 23, 2019
During a proud national moment, you must add a communal angle, no? Pathetic
Was this supposed to be funny? https://t.co/ZoAe12KPQz
— Umar. (@Umar__A7) July 23, 2019
Hmmm I wonder what all these countries have in common? Makes you think what the real message is here...think it starts with 'b' and ends in 'igotry'? https://t.co/wEKJ4kBsyy
— Mudassir (@mudassir_05) July 23, 2019
"be humble in victory and gracious in defeat"
— Stony Thomas (@Life0fHigh) July 23, 2019
Also looks like a bad case of WhatsApp forward fever, please get it checked. #cringey https://t.co/c8TXH5mA3m
Shame on you @harbhajan_singh .
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) July 22, 2019
Your Tweet is in bad taste and shows Indians in a bad light.
You are not a True Sportsman.
You are a Communal Person
I hope @bcci takes action against
You for your Communal Tweet and stops yours Pension .
Shame on You.
Singapore, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal
— Faizan Shaikh (@Faizan902894) July 23, 2019
also have the moon on their country flags. Nepal was Hindu majority till a few years ago. Sad to see Harbhajanamplifying Hindutva trope and picking on the Muslim nations. Not cool. https://t.co/Ap5AwQnahQ
Don't spread the hate. We were the one for thousands of years barring the last 71+ years. The subcontinent shares the same blood. Ours success theirs too. Even @isro sent it for the betterment of humanity not just india. We carrying @NASA equipments too for the research.
— Balaganesan (@balaganesanr) July 22, 2019
