Chairman of Essel Group and Rajya sabha MP, Subhash Chandra, has said that the company’s media outlets, including newspapers and newspapers, will not provide any coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan.
Chandra is boycotting the match in “support of the armed forces”. “Government made it clear that terror and talks can’t go together then how come terror and cricket can go together,” Chandra took to Twitter and said in a series of tweets.
Subhash Chandra said that all channels, news portals, newspapers under Zee Media – including Zee News, Zee Hindustan, WION, DNA – will not cover any news on the match.
“Producers stopped casting Pakistan actors, similarly, Pakistan banned our TV programs,” he said, adding that if Afghanistan can stop cricketing ties with Pakistan following the recent Kabul attack, why can India not do the same.
Producers stopped casting Pak actors, similarly, Pak banned our TV programs (1/2)
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
If Afghan can stop cricketing ties with Pak post Kabul attack then what is the need for us to continue after numerous terrorists attacks
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Chandra said Zee Media would have a special series for the entire Champions Trophy later, but will exclude the India-Pakistan match from it.
We’ll have the special series for entire Champions Trophy except India Vs Pak. In this match, we’re supporting the Indian Army.
— Dr. Subhash Chandra (@subhashchandra) June 4, 2017
Backing Chandra, Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary also urged the viewers’ to support this move by the channel. “Bat, ball and bombs cannot go together,” he tweeted.
Earlier, Subhash Chandra had tweeted saying the Board of Control for Cricket in India should have refused to play the match with Pakistan.
Bat,ball&bombs can not go together. @ZeeNews will be blacking out today’s India-Pak and will not report it.Hope our viewers will support us! pic.twitter.com/O4XtsjGbFk
— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) June 4, 2017
.@ZeeNews stands by our martyrs&their families.We do not support cricket in this volatile situation.Hence will not report India-Pak match. pic.twitter.com/eajESmcI2U
— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) June 4, 2017
India and Pakistan are set to face each other in their ICC Champions Trophy group match today in Birmingham, England.
Last year, following the Uri attack in September, Chandra had said Zee’s channel Zindagi was going to stop broadcasting Pakistani television shows.
