Gambhir slams Afridi for anti-Modi remarks

Harbhajan, Yuvraj get backlash on Twitter following Afridi’s outburst against Indian forces at border.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir on Sunday hit back at his favourite target former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his latest jibe against India PM Narendra Modi and the Indian armed forces.

In a video that is making the rounds on Twitter, Afridi is seen interacting with Pakistani army officials posted at the border at POK.

“I had been meaning to meet you’ll for a while now but this pandemic that has hit the world hard, I hope the almighty keeps you’ll safe, he said before hitting out at Modi.

“But there is a bigger disease and that is in Modi’s mind, the disease of hatred. He is doing politics of religion and the pain and suffering he has brought, 2kms from here, on our Kashmiri brothers, sisters and elders. Inshallah, he willhave to pay for it here on earth as well as in purgatory. He behaves fearless but is a coward. Modi deployed 7 lakh soldiers in Kashmir, same as the total strength of Pakistani forces,” he added.

Gambhir, who has a long history of tussles with the former Pakistani all-rounder, took to Twitter to give a befitting reply to the ’16-year-old man’.

“Pak has 7 lakh force backed by 20 Cr ppl says 16 yr old man @SAfridiOfficial. Yet begging for Kashmir for 70 yrs. Jokers like Afridi, Imran & Bajwa can spew venom against India & PM @narendramodi ji to fool Pak ppl but won’t get Kashmir till judgment day! Remember Bangladesh?” Gautam Gambhir replied.

After watching Afridi’s video, netizens directed their anger at former Indian cricketers in Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh who recently donated to the former Pakistan all-rounder’s charity foundation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

An angry Harbhajan called Shahid Afridi unworthy of his friendship, while Yuvraj regretted his call for assistance to the Pakistani player's charity -- 'Shahid Afridi Foundation' -- both former India players expressing disappointment at his anti-India comments.

"It was Afridi who requested me and Yuvi to do a video in support of his foundation as spread of pandemic doesn't see religion or borders. But then he would time and again make anti-India comments," Harbhajan told PTI on Sunday.

 "I feel terrible that I even called him a friend. He is not a worthy human being who can be called a friend. I am done with calling Afridi a friend," he added.

Yuvraj echoed the sentiment in a tweet.

"Really disappointed by @SAfridiOfficial's comments on our Hon'b PM @narendramodi ji. As a responsible Indian who has played for the country, I will never accept such words. I made an appeal on your behest for the sake of humanity. But never again," he said.

Afridi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of committing religious atrocities in India in a video that has gone viral on social media.

Does he feel that supporting Afridi's NGO was an error of judgement considering the sensititive nature of Indo-Pak relationship, Harbhajan replied: "The intention was to support a good cause. But then I hear him make unsavoury statements about my country. Here I try to support you despite being viciously trolled and then you show your class."

Asked if the trolling affected him, Harbbhajan said "No, I won't say it affected me because these are people who don't matter in my life. I know the kind of person I am. I don't need to prove my love for my country."

"Yes, I understand one point. Had this been a charity for Wasim Akram and had I posted a video supporting him, I wouldn't have been criticised or trolled. Because, Akram never insulted my country.

"So no one would have bothered. But here is a person, who asked for support for a cause and then lectures us on our country speaks more about him than me."

Does he want Afridi to know his opinion on the recent comments, Harbhajan said: "Jis gali jaana hi nahin uske bare mein sochna hi kyun (if I am not going to tread that path, why should I even bother thinking about it)."