New Delhi: An “open invitation” to Pakistani cricket fans by Indian online travel company MakeMyTrip is facing severe backlash on social media. Published in the local supplement of the Ahmedabad edition of a leading daily Saturday — as India and Pakistan face each other in the ICC Cricket World Cup at the city’s Narendra Modi stadium — the advertisement offers discounted accommodation to Pakistani fans if their team loses.
It says, “Dear neighbours, Let’s take a moment and forget our rivalries. After all, it’s not every day that you visit us. Hope you won’t mind us playing a good host. It’s going to be a big day today. So, staying true to the Indian tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, we want to extend some heartfelt offers to you.”
The discount rates are linked to the margin of Pakistan’s possible defeat: “If Pakistan loses by: 10 wickets or 200 runs, get 50% off. Use code: BoysPlayedWell. 6 wickets or 100 runs, get 30% off. Use code: EkShaheenHaar. 3 wickets or 50 runs, get 10% off. Use code: NoMaukaMauka”.
“From warm, on-demand meals to attached swimming pools and welcoming caretakers, you’ll find all the comfort needed to recover from the day’s beatings at our Homestays & Villas. They say tough times bring friends closer, and we want to take this opportunity to build a better bond with you,” it said.
Many Indians have lambasted the ad on social media, saying that it’s unsportsmanlike and in poor taste.
ThePrint reached MakeMyTrip for comment via email. This report will be updated if and when the company responds.
Meanwhile, an X handle by the name of Homestays & Villas, whose bio says it is into “Discovering unique homestays, luxurious villas, and top-notch hotels worldwide” sought to clarify it was not affiliated with the controversial ad.
We have no affiliation with this absolutely disgraceful advertisement published by @makemytrip. Our country comes first before any business and we do not serving our property to Pakistan citizens pic.twitter.com/YxBZ5mRN78
— Homestays & Villas (@thehomestays) October 14, 2023
Social media furore
Journalist Rahul Fernandes chose to apologise “to every Pakistani person for this MakeMyTrip ad” via his X account, adding, “The stereotyping using beards, the intentional grammatical errors. There’s nothing good about this. I hope the people who worked on this regret this some day.”
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla termed the advertisement “uncalled for and unwanted”, asking MakeMyTrip to withdraw it.
Not a good advertisement at all. Infact extremely uncalled for and unwanted. In my opinion #MakeMyTrip should withdraw the advertisement. #MakeMyTrip pic.twitter.com/JCVcij4plU
— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) October 14, 2023
Senior Supreme Court advocate Sajan Poovayya called it “regressive” as it does not represent “Indian values and ethos”.
Terrible and regressive @makemytrip ! This certainly doesn’t represent Indian values and ethos. India has always been fair and generous. Seems to me, @makemytrip isn’t, by a mile! pic.twitter.com/xNWPdglhJN
— Sajan Poovayya (@poovayya) October 14, 2023
And anger continued to spill on X with users calling it “gross” and in poor taste.
This is in such a bad taste @makemytrip . Not just bad taste, this is absolute gross. Hardly funny and zero class even in humor. I am almost apologetic to Pakistani cricket fans after looking at this.
While #MaukaMauka was class apart, this is bullshit. I don't really know what… pic.twitter.com/ndTOqCU3R5
— Yashwant Deshmukh 🇮🇳 (@YRDeshmukh) October 14, 2023
Meanwhile, in their campaigns thus far in the World Cup, as India started with wins against Australia and Afghanistan, Pakistan also built momentum with victories in their two matches against The Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Also read: India drop Ashwin, bring all-rounder Thakur for Afghanistan match