I Gautam Gambhir: Akshay can’t thank enough for helping in this crisis us
Every help in this gloom comes as a ray of hope,” tweeted MP Gautam Gambhir, as he shared the news that actor Akshay Kumar has pledged ₹ 1 crore to Gautam Gambhir Foundation (GGF) to deal with worsening Covid-19 crisis. He tells us, “Delhi is crumbling. Delhi is dying. It needs every kind of support. Every contribution matters and I can’t thank Akshay enough for supporting us. He told me, ‘Whatever you want in this Covid situation — medicines, oxygen cylinders, food — please do it and I’d want to donate’. He also said why don’t we open an ICU or Covid centre with oxygen, ventilators and stuff. I said we can, but organising doctors and nurses would need government’s support.”
Asked, if after Kumar, he hopes that more celebs would come forward to help, Gambhir says it’s a very conscious decision. “Its a very individual choice. I’ll never force anyone to come out and support. This country has given us everything — our identity — it’s up to us how we want to give it back,” says the former cricketer, who was accused of ‘hoarding’ Fabiflu medicines.
Mention this and he clarifies, “If I buy 300-400 strips on market price, and give them to the needy for free, is that hoarding? No. Hoarding is if I keep thousands at my home, and black market them. For me, saving people’s life is far more important than the allegations and negativity people throw at me.”
Strangely, Kumar’s decision to donate to GGF drew some criticism for the same reason. Gambhir admits he saw this coming. “I told him you might get trolled. He said, ‘I don’t care’. I said I’ve got trolled by doing the right thing. He said, ‘We’ll keep doing the right thing’. So, we were on the same page that all we need to answer is our conscience,” he says, pointing at hypocrisy of people.
“How easy it... When people don’t come out to support, they say, ‘Paise kamate ho, kuchh desh ke liye bhi kar do.’ And when people help, they say, ‘Why are you doing it for this person?’ So, it’s a double edge sword. Karo toh gaali khao, na karo toh gaali khao,” he rues.
Gambhir’s stint as a commentator in the ongoing IPL is also being criticised. He reacts, “Do these people realise that if we feed thousands of people, look after the education of 150 children of martyrs and sex workers, if we install air purifiers, open Covid centers, distribute 50,000 ration kits — all that needs money. Today, Akshay could donate because he’s working. If he stops acting, where is he going to donate from. So, If I don’t work, where am I going to get that money from?”
Akshay Kumar remained unavailable for a comment.
At this point, whoever wants to contribute, in whatever capacity, should be allowed to do, so that we can save lives. GAUTAM GAMBHIR, Politician