The controversy
Hardik Pandya & KL Rahul have turned from one of the most popular to the controversial Indian cricketing name in a span of an hour coffee date with Karan Johar. The Koffee with Karan episode streamed on Hotstar hosted both the players as a beginning of season of inviting cricketing celebrity. It has just hit as rock on the face for the host, as the episode turned out to be a controversial one for the said season. Hardik Pandya was seen to be making few objectifying remarks claiming his personality being more of black origin. He was quoted “I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I’m little from the black side so I need to see how they move”. Pandya was also seen boasting the incidence, when he lost his virginity and narrated the achievement to his parents. He also stated a party scene, where his parents enquired about his past with any girls and his response included pointing out at numerous. KL Rahul’s comments were subtle as compared to Pandya, but few remarks dragged him in the controversy. The remark of his interaction with fans in his room was one of the few.
Backlash in concurrence with #MeToo movement
As soon as the episode aired on the web, the internet lost its cool and backlashed the duo for their misogynist and sexist remarks. The episode attracted comments from fellow cricketing fraternity and celebrities from Bollywood. The Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli expressed in the press conference in Sydney that “We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don’t align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made“. Ace spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya by quoting that “this case has a lot of talk about sexism, racism and other ill-natured comments. You don’t tell these kinds of things on national television. We don’t even discuss these things with our friends”. There have been statements made on social media criticising the comments made by the duo in the show. Bollywood Actress Esha Gupta also expressed her anger and projected a bad upbringing for such a crash statement made by Pandya in the episode. This seems to be a storm that doesn’t seem to swing away and have created an uproar in lieu of the ongoing #MeToo movement supporting the rights of women and preventing any kind of harassment.
BCCI Rules & Regulations
Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji recommended “suspension till further action” against India players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul after the BCCI legal team refused to declare their outrage-evoking comments on women a violation of the code of conduct. Committee of Administrators (COA) chief Vinod Rai has proposed a quick inquiry into much-criticised comments made by suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul but Diana Edulji fears it will be construed as a “cover up” job. A source in the BCCI also told the PTI that the two cricketers will be issued fresh show cause notices. “Whether it will be an internal committee of the BCCI or an ad hoc ombudsman who will conduct an inquiry, is yet to be ascertained,” the official said.
If one reads the rulebook of BCCI, it can be noted that there are no guidelines barring players from such shows and stating what covers misconduct of a team player. The rules and regulations of BCCI states in Clause 10 that “The Board shall have the power to call into question the conduct of any player within its jurisdiction and may take such disciplinary action against the player as the Board may deem fit. The Board’s decision shall be final.” Clause 32 (iv) of the same explains that players would be brought under scrutiny for committing any act of indiscipline or misconduct or acts in any manner which may or likely to be detrimental to the interest of the Board or the game of cricket or endanger the harmony or affect the reputation or interest of the Board or refuses or neglects to comply with any of the provisions of the Memorandum and/or the Rules and Regulations of the Board and/or the Rules of conduct framed by the Board.
Gentleman’s game or Freedom of expression
Former India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar had lauded the BCCI for suspending Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul and insisted that suspended players shouldn’t be rubbing shoulders with their teammates in the dressing room. “They [the BCCI] have dealt with it [the controversy]. From what I read in the newspapers today, they have sent them back or asked them to come back. That’s a right way to send a signal,” Gavaskar told Sony Six on Saturday.
The duo has been trashed across the media and have been portrayed as a sexual predator for their remarks on an entertainment show that was filled with questions that hinted controversial responses. Koffee with Karan have always been in the brunt of gossips and controversy amid remarks made by Bollywood celebrity. This has not been one of the first, where one comment has stirred the media, but came in light due to its association with the cricketing fraternity. We still need to address the question that should Bollywood and Cricketing celebrity be treated differently for comments made in an entertainment show each or do we still need to make the line very clear between freedom of expression and freedom of speech?
Victim of a Game or offender to be shamed
Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Babul Supriyo has slammed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Committee of Administrators (CoA) member, Diana Edulji for trying to “destroy” the careers of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who have been suspended pending an inquiry over their “inappropriate comments” on a popular television show. “With due & utter respect to Diana Edulji & her contribution to Indian cricket, May I say that her thinking has got ‘fossil’ to contemplate such extreme steps. What Hardik said is deplorable but their has to be some prudence in the way such senior minds handle the young ones” (sic) Supriyo tweeted.
Sreesanth said that those who had made bigger mistakes than Rahul and Pandya had gotten away with it in the past. “Yes, what happened was wrong. They said some wrong things. But there are others whose have made bigger mistakes than these, who are still playing and are in different fields not just cricket. The same people are speaking about this. When they see an opportunity, they pounce on it like tigers,” Sreesanth said
Reacting to the criticism, Pandya’s father Himanshu told mid-day: I don’t think people should read too much into his comments. It was an entertainment show and his comments were made in a light-hearted manner. “He was only looking to entertain the audience. So, it [his comments] should not be viewed very seriously or negatively. He is an innocent boy with a very fun-loving nature.”
Careers at Stake
“Both Pandya and Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry,” PTI quoted Committee of Administrators chief Vindo Rai. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) Chairman Vinod Rai has now referred the matter to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, who will investigate the case further. Johri is supposed to submit his findings in no more than 15 days. “Yes, Hardik and Rahul have submitted their reply to the fresh showcause notices that were served to them. They have tendered unconditional apology. The CoA chief has instructed the CEO to conduct an inquiry as per clause 41 (c) of the new BCCI constitution,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
The initial two match suspension have now turned on to dismissal of the duo from both Australia series and the limited-over series in New Zealand. It is rumoured that the investigation will have a toll on the chances of getting through the World Cup squad scattering the dream of these passionate cricket players, who have had a tremendous spell in the last matches played. Meanwhile, Pandya has locked himself in his house and is not ready to communicate with anybody amidst the controversy. He has also been the constant, falling at every level ranging from losing Khan Gymkhana club membership to the Gillette advertisement contract.
Road Ahead
BCCI need to formulate code of conduct for every player irrespective of the grade in order to contemplate actions irrespective of any discrimination of superiority. The board should instruct players to avoid making appearance in entertainment shows and party in lieu of the chances of honey trap and leading to corruption allegations. The cricket contract o players should state terms and conditions on occasions of misconduct and penalties instead of waiting for instances of offences and harbouring the career at stake in lieu of personal covets. This controversy in the light of #MeToo movement have gained the momentum of standing for women’s right and against any harassment. Every individual need to be taught the value of dignity, respect and ethics but not at the cost of his personal wellbeing and professional career at stake.
Critical Victimologist 