Former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan has defended his tweet, which he posted following the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests by the Jamia Millia Islamia University students. Pathan in his tweet wrote, “Political blame game will go on forever but I and our country is concerned about the students of #JamiaMilia #JamiaProtest,” following the protest in Delhi. Irfan Pathan on CAA Protest: 'Political Blame Game Will Go on Forever But I and Our Country Concerned About Jamia Milia Students'.

Meanwhile, Pathan told Indian Express that he has the freedom to express his views. “Let me start with a personal story. When I went to Pakistan in 2004 for the Friendship tour, I went to a college in Lahore along with Rahul Dravid, L Balaji, and Parthiv Patel. In a question-and-answer segment attended by 1,500 students, one girl got up and asked, almost in anger: why do I play for India despite being a Muslim? I stood up and said I am not doing any favours (ehsaan) by playing for India. It’s my country, and I am lucky, proud and honoured to represent it. It’s my mulk, my country, a place where my ancestors all come from. Everyone in that college clapped,” said Pathan. 

“If I can speak like that in Pakistan, in an open gathering, puffing out my chest, then I don’t need anyone’s permission in my own country to say what I feel. I have represented my country. Some people should realise that. When I ran in to bowl for India, I didn’t think I am a Muslim. I am an Indian first before anything else,” he added.

The cricketer also added that, “whenever there are two sides to an argument, and both strong, I don’t tweet about it. Here, the issue was different. Peaceful protest in a democracy is a fundamental right. I wanted the attention to go there so that there is no loss of life there, the situation doesn’t worsen. These are kids, our future. Aren’t the Jamia kids ours? Aren’t the IIM kids ours? Aren’t the North-East kids ours? Aren’t the kids from Kashmir and Gujarat ours? All of them are our kids.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2019 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).