Prank gone wrong: UP man wears Pakistan jersey in India-Pak match, family tagged traitor

Sanyam Jaiswal from Bareilly could never have thought that a small prank could create a big trouble for him. The 42-year-old Jaiswal had travelled from Bareilly to UAE to watch the much-awaited India-Pakistan Asia Cup match on Sunday. According to a ToI report, Jaiswal reached late for the India-Pakistan match and at the packed stadium, he bought a Pakistan jersey as the Indian team jersey was all sold out. This small prank triggered a big protest back home in India.

"After I failed to get an Indian jersey at the store outside the stadium, I picked up a Pakistan jersey, which was available. I thought I would tease Pakistani fans by shouting 'Hindustan zindabad' while wearing their national colours. I didn't know such a harmless thing would result in misery for me," Jaiswal told ToI after the photo went viral.

Within few hours, the photo of "an Indian man supporting Pakistan" went viral on social media in Bareilly. According to the reports, his family is getting threats, people have been tagging him anti-national and some have even appealed to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, senior police officers and BJP politicians to order an FIR against him.


Reacting on this whole incident, Jaiswal said: "I feel so let down," he said, adding, "I had shared the pictures with a few friends. I don’t know who shared it publicly. I am under immense tension while my father, wife, and children are restless at home. I am really disappointed with the people who are sharing my images on social media without my consent and without knowing my side of the story.“

"It was all innocent. Though I was wearing the Pakistan jersey, I also had the Indian flag in my hand. My father is a heart patient and he says he will get an attack from all the tension. Everyone is calling me a traitor," he added.