Whether it is on the field or off it, Ravichandran Ashwin has never shied away from giving it back to the opposition. While the off-spinner rarely his the emotions get the better of him, he does not shy away from hitting it back and gave an example of it recently. On Tuesday, the India ace was involved in a heated war of words with some fans because of his tweet on the pollution in Chennai in the wake of Bhogi festival.
The air pollution in Chennai aggravated on the day of Bhogi festival as people across the city as well as outside of it lighted bonfires which contributed to increase in carbon emissions. Consequently, there was a thick blanket of smog across the city on Tuesday morning. At around 11 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 170 in the city which was enough to cause breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.
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With humidity over 90 per cent and no wind, the smog refused to blow away and kept the pollution levels high. Fed up with the pollution in the city, Ravichandran Ashwin took to Twitter to call for educating people about the hazards of “spoiling the planet further in the name of traditions.”
“Massive smog in Chennai this morning owing to Bhogi burning, entire nose getting blocked and black discharges later in the day. I am not sure if it”s worth spoiling the planet further in the name of traditions. There has to be a way to educate everyone and make them understand,” wrote Ravichandran Ashwin.
And while most of the fans agreed with him, there were some who disagreed and the spinner did not shy away from arguing or rather answering them. One of the users pointed out the huge number of firecrackers burning on New Year’s Day as he wrote:
“One day 8000kgs of crackers burnt for new year celebration.. is valid..but following tradition for one day is Invalid. Usually the kathir of paddy and the cow dung will be burnt in the past.”
. One day 8000kgs of crackers burnt for new year celebration.. is valid..but following tradition for one day is Invalid.
Usually the kathir of paddy and the cow dung will be burnt in the past.— Sanathana Dharma Iyer??? (@Gurutalks_san) January 14, 2020
In reply, Ashwin clarified that he is not saying whether celebrating festivals by burning bonfires or bursting crackers is right or wrong, writing:
“Look I am not saying one is right and the other is wrong, all I am saying is things that will affect the environment need to be handled with care.”
Look I am not saying one is right and the other is wrong, all I am saying is things that will affect the environment needs to be handled with care.
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) January 14, 2020
Another user then asked Ravichandran Ashwin to stop using cars in order to minimise pollution, writing:
“Ya u r right…pls stop using car..go by public transport..will you? ??
Ashwin once again replied to the tweet and once again kept his reply subtle, writing:
“I will take your advice and act on it in a way that’s environment friendly?”
I will take your advice and act on it in a way that’s environment friendly?
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) January 14, 2020
The fan was not done yet as he hit back by writing: “Good…it is the responsibility of every citizen including celebrities”
Well, Ashwin was not letting it go either as he gave the fan a fitting reply by writing: “I never claimed to be a celebrity, I play a game I love and that doesn’t make me any different. As for the other so called popular people, it’s not my prerogative. So to have a go at me with your preconceived notions needs to be given a second thought. ??”
I never claimed to be a celebrity, I play a game I love and that doesn’t make me any different. As for the other so called popular people, it’s not my prerogative. So to have a go at me with your preconceived notions needs to be given a second thought. ??
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) January 14, 2020