'Bas politics sudhar jaye': Munawar Faruqui shares Sunil Chetri's clip after Lionel Messi statue unveiling

The recent unveiling of a statue of global football icon Lionel Messi in Mumbai created a wave of discussion across the country. The event, which drew large crowds, was attended by several celebrities and public figures, quickly becoming a major talking point on social media. While many fans celebrated the tribute to one of the greatest footballers of all time, others questioned the timing and intent behind honouring an international star when Indian sports personalities continue to struggle for equal recognition. The visuals from the event sparked a wider debate about sporting priorities in India and the space given to homegrown talent.

Amid this growing conversation, comedian and reality show winner Munawar Faruqui added his voice by sharing a video on his Instagram stories that reignited the debate. The clip featured Sunil Chetri, the captain of the Indian football team, posing with a trophy when a politician was seen asking him to move aside. The video contrasted Chetri’s moment with the grandeur surrounding Messi’s statue unveiling, subtly questioning the respect shown to Indian athletes. Sharing the video, Munawar expressed his frustration and hope for change. He wrote, 'All i want to see is india win! Indian win and dominate every sports possible and we are capable! Bas politics shudhar jaye.' (sic)

Munawar’s Instagram story drew attention as it highlighted a contrast between two moments involving football. The video he shared showed Sunil Chetri, the Indian football team captain, being asked to step aside while holding a trophy, alongside visuals referencing the recent unveiling of Lionel Messi’s statue in Mumbai. Through his caption, Munawar focused on India’s performance in sports and expressed his wish to see the country succeed, while pointing out the role of politics in such situations.

The video and Munawar’s caption added to the ongoing online circulation of visuals from the statue unveiling event and the separate clip featuring Sunil Chetri. His story focused on India’s sporting ambitions and included a remark about politics, without further commentary. The post remained available on his Instagram stories for a limited time, consistent with the platform’s format.