Blanking out: We're one with the Soldier

With Pakistan continuing to support militancy in J&K and also resorting to unprovoked firing across the Line of Control and international border aimed at martyring Indian soldiers, the nation wasn't happy when the Indian cricket team took on Pakistan at an ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston (UK).

To express solidarity with our soldiers and families of soldiers felled by Pakistani bullets, the Zee Group, the country's biggest media conglomerate, decided not to show or publish any news about Sunday's match.

Setting the stage for the unprecedented decision, Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra tweeted: "If Afghan can stop cricketing ties with Pak post Kabul attack then what is the need for us to continue after numerous terrorists attacks?"

He also pointed out that Indian producers had stopped casting Pakistani actors, while the Pakistan government has banned Indian TV programmes.

The government had made it clear that "terror and talks can't go together". He asked: "Then how come terror and cricket can go together?"

"Zee News, Zee Hindustan, WION, DNA and all other news channels from Zee Media will not be covering any news about India Pak match. None of the portals, apps, newspaper, and news channels will report about the match in support of our armed forces," he announced through subsequent tweets.

The courageous move was hailed across the nation, all for the simple reason that it echoed the sentiments of all those families of Indian martyrs who have been appealing to the government to stop India from playing Pakistan till the situation improves at the LoC.

The move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan was reciprocated with more terrorist attacks.

Since September 2016, four army camps have been attacked by terrorists in J&K.

On May 1, Pakistani forces not only carried out an attack after sneaking about 400 to 500 meters inside the Indian territory in Poonch district, but mutilated the bodies of two soldiers of Army and BSF.

It must be mentioned here that it was Union sports minister Vijay Goel who sent out a strong message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last week against the proposed bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan.

"BCCI should come out with a proposal on Pakistan only after consultations with the government. I have already made it clear that any bilateral series with Pakistan is almost impossible because there cannot be sports relations between the two countries until there is terrorism from the Pakistani side. Sports and terrorism cannot go hand in hand," Goel told DNA.

Cricket diplomacy has always worked for the two warring countries, but there were numerous occasions in the past when Indian government had put its foot down on the issue of terror.

In December 1999, India refused to tour Pakistan and even withdrew from the second Asian Test Championship after the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight. In fact, then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told BCCI to cut-off any cricketing ties with Pakistan.

The cricketing ties only resumed after PM Vajpayee again went to Pakistan to attend the SAARC summit in 2004. To boost the friendship further, Indian government gave the green light to Team India to go for a full-fledged cricket tour of Pakistan, comprising of three Tests and five ODIs.

Vajpayee, like a true statesman, met Indian team members before their departure to Pak and asked them "to not only win the matches, but also the hearts of Pakistani public".

Between 2004 to 2008, until 26/11 Mumbai attacks, it was a golden period for Indo-Pak cricket and even continued despite Samjhauta Express train blast in February 2007. But the 26/11 attacks forced India to take tough stand against Pak once again and called off a proposed series in Pakistan in February 2009.

History shows how India's cricket team has not visited its neighbouring country since then and how Pakistani players have been barred from playing in lucrative Indian Premier League since then.