Stop playing 'Hindu Muslim', learn from Croatia, Harbhajan Singh pleads Indians

After a month of thrilling football, the curtains finally came down yesterday on the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. France and Croatia locked horns in the grand finale at Luzhniki Stadium, which has a capacity of 81,000. Hugo Lloris and Co brushed aside Croatia and beat them by 4-2 in a rather one-sided encounter. Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic churned out goals but in a losing cause.

In the 18th minute, Mandzukic’s own-goal took France to the lead after which Perisic drew level. However, Antoine Griezmann’s penalty took France to the lead and the third-ranked team in the world didn’t look back thereafter. Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe’s goal ripped the heart of the Croatians. Mandzukic redeemed himself in the 69th minute, but the writing was already on the wall by then.

Harbhajan’s stern words

Despite the defeat, the World Cup turned out to be memorable for Croatia as it was their best performance ever. Back in 1998, they finished third and couldn’t make an impact up until now. Croatia has a population of 50 lakhs and the fact that their football team could go all the way and India with a population of 1.3bn haven’t managed to even qualify for the World Cup is an issue that has been highlighted in the country. Harbhajan Singh, the discarded Indian cricketer, has thrown light on the glaring religion-based issues in the country and only then will we be able to do something say a Croatia managed.

Time and again, news surrounding riots between the various religious groups has sparked, which disturbs the political spectrum of the country. The off-break bowler showed his agitation for the reason that despite having a population of over 135 crores, India isn’t making optimum utilisation of their resources.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “लगभग 50 लाख की आबादी वाला देश क्रोएशिया फ़ुटबॉल वर्ल्ड कप का फाइनल खेलेगा और हम 135 करोड़ लोग हिंदू मुसलमान खेल रहे है।#soch bdlo desh bdlega”

This roughly translates to “Croatia with a population of 50 lakhs are playing the football World Cup final and we Indians with a population of 135 crores are playing Hindu-Musalman. #Change your thoughts and then only our country can change”

Here is Harbhajan’s tweet:

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