Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father Yograj Singh has once again stirred up a hornet’s nest by making a highly objectionable speech at the ongoing farmers protest.
In the speech given in Punjabi, Yograj can be seen using the word “traitors” for Hindus. He can be heard saying: “These Hindus are traitors, did slavery of the Mughals for 100 years.”
Targeting the community, he went on to add: “These people folded their hands and handed over their daughters to Mughals… when their women were taken by Ahmad Shah Durrani and sold, it was the Punjabis who rescued them.”
His attack did not stop there. Training his gun at the government, he said: “I have seen my leaders being sold in Delhi Durbar. From Rs 5cr to Rs 10-20cr. This is the community that has committed slavery for thousands of years, those slaves do so when they come to power. I say with folded hands, find a leader among you, you will meet many. If Punjab is to be saved, keep power in your hands.”
Following the inflammatory speech, “Arrest Yograj Singh” started trending on Twitter. Netizens termed the speech blasphemous, abusive, derogatory and hateful.
However, this is not the first time Yograj has made such objectionable comments. He has often courted controversies with his comments on Indian cricket, especially with reference to former captain MS Dhoni. He accused Dhoni and the Indian team management of ending his son’s career.
Several farmers have gathered at different points along the Delhi border protesting three contentious farm bills passed by the Narendra Modi government in September. They have earned the support of several celebrities over the past few days.
The farmers have called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8 after talks with three Union ministers and a representative group of agitating farmers failed to yield results. So far, five rounds of talks have taken place without any fruitful results.