Former Indian cricket Harbhajan Singh tweeted out an apology after a video of himself and his fellow India Champions received flak for allegedly mocking people with disabilities.
Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi on Monday slammed Harbhajan and Suresh Raina for hurting the sentiments of people with physical disabilities in an Instagram reel. The cricketers also raised the ire of various disability rights groups.
“Just wanted to clear to our people who are complaining about our recent videos of Tauba Tauba on social media after winning the championship here in England. We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments. We respect every individual and community. And this video was just to reflect to our bodies after playing continues cricket for 15 days. SORE bodies.. we r not trying to insult or offend anyone.. still if people think we hv done something wrong ..All I can say from my side. SORRY to everyone .. plz let’s stop this here and move forward. Stay happy and healthy. Love to all. Regards,” Harbhajan clarified on X.
Harbhajan was recently part of the India Champions team that won the World Championship of Legends tournament for retired cricketers, beating Pakistan Champions on Saturday in Edgbaston.
Following the win Harbhajan shared a video on Sunday in which the former India spinner, teammates Yuvraj Singh, Raina and Gurkeerat Singh Mann, are seen limping while grooving to the latest Bollywood chartbuster, Tauba Tauba. “Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket. Every part of the body is sore,” Harbhajan wrote as he tagged Vicky Kaushal and Karan Aujla, the original song’s actor and singer, on the post.
Manasi, a former world no. 1 in her SL3 badminton category, criticised the cricketers’ for mocking the gait patterns of people with disability in a comment on Harbhajan’s post.
“Wanted more responsibility from the stars that you all are, please do not mock at the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny”
“You don’t know how much harm your behaviour can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is ok to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs. More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel. If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for public platform,” Manasi lamented.
“This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India,” Manasi added in another comment on the video.
