India-Pak match: Make My Trip adv on hosting Pakistanis stirs row; netizens erupt, memes circulate

New Delhi: Ahead of the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Make My Trip has stirred controversy with its abominable & distasteful advertisement on hosting Pakistani fans in the city. The advertisement has raised the hackles of many netizens over flattering & sprawling offer to Pakistani cricket fans by the travel firm.

The online travel company in full page advertisement in an Ahmedabad daily throws an “open invite to Pakistani fans” to come to India and get a taste of Indian hospitality.

The online travel firm promises to be a ‘good host’ to visiting Pakistani fans and ‘pamper’ them on a day when the cricket’s biggest rivalry is set to happen in the World Cup tournament.

“Dear Neighbours, let’s take a moment & forget our rivalries…”

⁦@makemytrip⁩’s tasteless ad calls 34 years of Pak-sponsored terrorism that’s killed thousands of our civilians & soldiers “rivalries” as if there’s an equivalence between culprit & victim.
Money above honour pic.twitter.com/FI46PD5tg0

— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) October 14, 2023

Make My Trip has come under barrage of criticism for extending hospitality to a nation which harbours terrorists and allows its base for inflicting bloodshed & terror on India. Many netizens called out the Make My Trip for rolling out red carpet for Pak fans and termed its advertisement ‘distasteful, disgraceful & repugnant’.

On the one hand, there’s distasteful @makemytrip ad. On the other, there’s this.

Watch before using sport to engage in cheap nationalism pic.twitter.com/OdTET7wfd7

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) October 14, 2023

Many are livid with the company and accusing it of prioritizing money over national interest. They are asking why the travel firm was extending hospitality to Pak fans when we remain at the receiving end of terror elements, emanating from neighbouring country.

हमारे सैनिकों के जान और देश के सम्मान से बढ़कर इनके लिए पैसा हो गया है।@makemytrip अपने विज्ञापन में कहता है कि,

“प्रिय पड़ोसियों, आइए एक क्षण रुकें और अपनी प्रतिद्वंद्विता को भूल जाएं। आख़िरकार यह रोज़ नहीं होता कि आप हमसे मिलने आते हैं…”

जिस ‘पाक-प्रायोजित’ आतंकवाद को… pic.twitter.com/7BfRivF0mb

— Ankit Kumar Avasthi (@kaankit) October 14, 2023

MMT advertisement has netizens divided

The advertisement by Make My Trip ahead of India & Pak match has triggered wide debate on the social media, with many calling out the online travel portal for not upholding the spirit of game and rather demeaning it with its ‘cheap tactics’.

Many saw it bad in taste and unwelcoming.

“It cites ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ for warm hospitality but betrays the sporting ethics with such gross advertisement, one of them said.

The booking & discount offer in the MakeMyTrip advertisement is the contention point on which netizens are divided.

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

Though, many netizens are hailing MMT for offering ‘awesome’ offer. The company has offered heavy to very heavy discount to Pakistani fans, provided the visiting team gets vanquished by the hosts in Motera encounter.
“50% discount on loss by 10 wickets, 30% discount on 6 wickets loss and 10% on 3 wicekts loss,” says the advertisement.

A couple of users found it in good humour but many saw it as gross violation of ethics. A couple of users also apologized to Pak cricket fans.

Some guys are apologizing to Pakistan for this ad by @makemytrip ..Please see this video and then make any judgment.. https://t.co/ea5e5YQTgb pic.twitter.com/SuVwVNH5X4

— Shawstopper (@shawstopper_100) October 14, 2023

Sehwag reacts on viral MMT advertisement

Virendra Sehwag also commented on the MMT advertisement and took it as light humour.

Na Ishq mein na Pyaar mein .
Jo mazza hai Pakistan ki haar mein.

Aise kaun invite karta hai yaar 🤣

Sahi khel gaye MMT ! pic.twitter.com/xfN9sk98sG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 14, 2023

This is aweful – @makemytrip let’s have sporting spirit – bad in taste pic.twitter.com/qYqppuGfC9

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) October 14, 2023