RSS-affiliate wants Govt to prevent OPPO from sponsoring Team India

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch or the SJM have now raised their voice against the smartphone manufacturers OPPO as the Indian team sponsor. The Manch opposes the Chinese company and has gone to the extent of requesting the Sports Minister Vijay Goel to seek government’s help regarding this matter.

As per a chat with the Indian Express on Wednesday, Ashwani Mahajan, SJM’s co-convenor said “China imports is a big problem. On the other hand, it (China) is a threat to national security. In such a situation, it is unfortunate that a Chinese brand has won the sponsorship deal of the Indian cricket team. We have sought time from the sports minister to seek government intervention in the matter.”

OPPO’s bid of Rs 1,079 crores for five years was enough to win the battle to become the shirt sponsor for Team India. The bid is supposed to be five times more than a previous bid of Star India. The Chinese company will replace Star India from the 1st of April this year.

The Chinese mobile manufacturer’s first major event as Indian team sponsor would be the Champions Trophy which starts in the month of June. Star India had made it clear that it would not seek a renewal of its sponsorship deal with the Board, following the deal end.

Star suggested that the differing commitments from the other end made it difficult for them to renew. Star was also declared ineligible just before the start of the bid by the other corporates.

The Chinese company’s bid for five years was more than double the reserve price of Rs 538 crore set by BCCI. Interestingly, the only other bidder was also VIVO, a Chinese smartphone maker who are incidentally the sponsor of the mega event Indian Premier League.

Both the Indian men team and the women team will be wearing their kits with the Chinese company’s logo on it. It would also have the rights to call itself “official sponsor of the Indian Cricket team”.

Mahajan further talked about the issue stating “We have already collected three crore signatures. When this is the public sentiment against Chinese companies, how can one such company sponsor the cricket team and cash in on its popularity.”

He also mentioned the difficult phase through which BCCI was going through from the start of this year. Anurag Thakur, the Board president, was sacked following the judgement that was given by the Supreme Court of India.