Sunil Chhetri: Extremely sorry for what happened against Northeast people

The Indian Football Team and Bengaluru FC skipper condemned the discrimination faced by the Northeastern people.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in India has resulted in a subsequent nationwide lockdown. Apparently, a couple of incidents have emerged where the people from northeastern states were mistreated by a few individuals. Indian Football Team captain Sunil Chhetri has condemned such occurrences in a recent interview with The Quint.  

Chhetri stated, “If you are the one doing this, imagine if the virus originated from a place where people look like you or your region. Let’s suppose you are working in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim or any northeastern state and people hound you, bully you or trouble you. How would you feel?”

He continued, “It doesn’t take much science and maths to understand that do not do things that if you were at that place would hurt you or trouble you. What if the virus came from a place where people look like you and the whole country turns against you just because of this reason? It is so stupid. I don’t want to use harsh words but just don’t do it. We footballers stand strictly against racism."

“We are very proud that our country has so many different places, so many different people. This is something that we should celebrate and not degrade it like this. I know it’s just a handful of people. I have full faith and trust in my countrymen. But whoever is doing it; just put some brains, man.”

Recently, a girl from Manipur was spat on by a man from Delhi who also called her ‘Corona’ in the process. Later on, two students from Nagaland were barred from entering a grocery store in Mysore. They were touted to be foreigners. However, the Mysore police acted upon the incident and took the manager and staff of the outlet into custody.

Further, the 35-year-old also remarked, “From the whole country I would like to apologize to the ones who are facing the bullying and the hounding and the troubles. The few men who have done it, they don’t speak for the country. We are extremely sorry for what has happened.

“This is the last thing we need right now. I mean look around what is happening to our country and around the world. It speaks very low about the people who are doing it. Please don’t do it. To the northeastern people who are facing it and have faced it; I hope it stops now. To the ones who didn’t retaliate, great job guys. I am sorry on behalf of the whole country.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umW-P8ODCy0

Sunil Chhetri also thanked the healthcare workers who are battling the current scenario from the forefront. He said, “I was having a discussion with my wife and she asked me, ‘Would you do it if you had a chance?’ Trust me, I didn’t have a ready yes as an answer. It’s not easy, knowing what this virus could do and still going out and doing your duty."

“I genuinely feel so much gratitude towards them, all of them who are on the ground to help and not let this pandemic spread in our country, kudos to them. I fold both my hands and say thank you. They are indeed the actual heroes.”

The Indian Football Team made a collective donation to aid the government in its efforts to fight the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Sunil Chhetri reflected on that saying, “I cannot use the words easy or difficult, because I don’t know how the other boys have managed. Because, a few of them have just started their careers and they are not paid as handsomely as the other senior ones. But still they were so enthusiastic in coming together and chipping in. A few of those young boys are also doing community work.”

He added, “It was sweet mainly because a lot of young boys participated in a big way. As a captain, I am really proud.”