New Delhi: Every athlete representing the country gives their best and plays for the nation always, said Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, throwing his weight behind Arshdeep Singh who was being targeted by vicious online trolls that had resorted to name calling and brand him as "Khalistani".
"Every athlete representing the country gives their best and plays for the nation always. They need our constant support & remember, that in sports you win some & you lose some. Let's keep cricket or any other sport free from personal attacks. @arshdeepsinghh keep working hard and give the best reply by performing on the field. I am keenly following you. My best wishes," Sachin wrote in twitter.
Meanwhile, the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry had summoned Wikipedia executives for an explanation based on cricketer Arshdeep Singh's modified description that reflected his links with the "Khalistani" movement in the page. The screenshots of the same was widely being shared across all social media platforms targeting Arshdeep.
Union Minister IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said no intermediary operating in India can permit this type of misinformation. "No intermediary operating in India can permit this type of misinformation n deliberate efforts to incitement n #userharm – violates our govts expectation of Safe & Trusted Internet," Chandrasekar tweeted.
The move comes in the back of high-voltage India, Pakistan clash where the former lost the match by five wickets. The loss came with a vicious trolling by social media where the Punjab bowler was singled out for missing an easy flier off Asif Ali. The entire cricketing fraternity had come out strongly in support of India's young left-arm pacer over his dropped catch.
In the third ball of the 18th over, when Pakistan needed 32 runs off 15 balls, Ali had slog-swept off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. But he got a thick top-edge, which flew towards short third man. Arshdeep, stationed there, put down the sitter as the ball went through his hands. If Arshdeep had taken the catch, Ali would have been out for a duck.
