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The video has evoked sharp responses from a section of social media users, with many accusing them of religious extremism.
Cricketers Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik have been trolled by a section of Indian fans on social media for refusing to apply tilak (vermilion) on their forehead.
The video of the act has gone viral on the internet, with many accusing the duo of disrespecting Indian tradition and culture.
The viral video opens with Indian cricketers entering a hotel in a queue. They are welcomed by a woman staff member who applies vermillion on their forehead as they appear in a queue.
However, Siraj and Malik refused to apply tilak when their turn came.
The video has evoked sharp responses from a section of social media users, who accuse them of religious extremism.
“Even after reaching this point (in their careers), Mohammad Siraj and Umran Malik refuse TILAK because they are religious extremists????” wrote a user named Laxman Chaurasiya.
Another user named Himanshu Prakash Mehta wrote, “Disrespectful by Umran Malik Mohammed Siraj & a couple of others. (It is) disgusting to give religious colour to the tradition of India.”
Some trolls even went to the extent of unfollowing the cricketers.
“People like Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik are so hardliner that they would have gone against their religion had they applied tilak. I have unfollowed them. Now, it is your turn,” wrote Prabhakar Dwivedi, who also posted a video of his mobile phone recording, which shows him un-following Siraj.
Some users also questioned India’s Constitutional concept of secularism, saying that Muslim figures will continue to assert their religious identity even as those belonging to the Hindu community visit mosques and other Islamic places to prove their secular beliefs.
“Umran Malik and Mohammed Siraj didn’t apply tilak. But Hindus are desperate to offer chaadar and wear skull cap,” wrote a Twitter user who goes by the name of MJ.
Some users, however, pointed out that Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour and game data analyst Hari Prasad Mohan also refused to apply tilak.
The video seems to be old.
The Indian cricket team is currently practising in Maharashtra’s Nagpur for the Border-Gavaskar trophy series against Australia, which starts on February 9 and runs through March 13. Though Siraj is part of the Indian squad for the series, Umran Malik has not been selected.
According to reports, the video could be from Sri Lanka and New Zealand white-ball matches which took place in India recently.
