Parvez Rasool’s entry in Team India creates buzz on Social Networking Sites
FAZIL QAYOOM
Srinagar, July 06: (GNS) With Kashmiri cricketer Parvez Rasool making it to Indian national cricket team as the first one from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve such feat, the social networking sites remained a buzz from past few days. For some, India is playing the “Parvez Card” to legitimize its presence in Kashmir while others adopted a liberal approach vis-à-vis his selection in the national squad.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah was quick to respond to Rasool’s inclusion in the Zimbabwe squad on micro blogging site twitter. Omar tweeted, “Parvez Rasool has made it in to the team on the back of a very strong performance in recent months, his being a Kashmiri is incidental.”
Samreen Mushtaq, a political Science student from Jawaharlal Nehru University in her tweet says that India is misleading people that everything goes well in Kashmir. “Not criticizing his cricketing talent but they are using him as another name to legitimize occupation and show how happy Kashmir is with India.”
Journalist Gowhar Geelani pleads people on facebook that Paravez Rasool should not be ostracized for his being selected in the Indian team. “Why ostracize and isolate Parvez Rasool, a cricketer from small South Kashmir town Bijbehara and a boy with humble background, for getting selected in the Indian national team? Don’t we have people joining as Police officers, IAS and KAS officers, bureaucrats, politicians, collaborators, Sarpanchs and Panchs…! It should be left as it is. Some Kashmiris would want Parvez to score runs and take wickets but still pray on the prayer mat for Pakistan’s victory over India. That remains the reality,” Gowhar wrote in reaction of Parvez being viewed as ‘traitor’ by some Facebook users.
However, Shahnawaz Dar writes that Rasool’s insertion in the Indian team is a psychological operation to win the people of Kashmir. “One more Kashmiri and his near and dear ones turned Indian by heart. It is called Operation Sadbhavana.”
Salman Anees Soz puts criticism aside and in a different tone challenges Kashmiris to excel in their fields. “I for one am celebrating Parvez Rasool for such a rare accomplishment. I hope we have even more Kashmiris at world class levels in their own fields.”
Haris Zargar views this as a slave mentality to accept each thing from India. “He is an extension of “State’s repressive apparatus”, though i don’t blame him. It’s only slave mentality.”
While Ibni Zaraar on his tweet invites all Kashmiris to step back. “Let Parvaiz Rasool say bye bye to #Indian cricket Team. Let all #kashmiris, who work in India also say bye to India. Let it be mass revolution.”
Rohail Afzal, a mass communication and journalism student sees nothing bad if Parvez plays with India. “Congrats, if a Pakistani can play for South Africa and Australia or an Indian can play for England, why can’t a Kashmiri play for India or any other nation.” However Kashmiris residing in Indian occupied Kashmir decided not to join Indian Cricket Team. The Kashmiris living in London are now planning to organize Cricket team. The team members will be consisting of players from Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and IOK.
