Make My Trip Ad Ahead of India-Pakistan Match Sparks Controversy; Netizens Call It Disgraceful

The popular travel website- Make My Trip has courted controversy with their newspaper ad ahead of the much anticipated India-Pakistan ICC World Cup 2023 match in Ahmedabad. Internet went abuzz with netizens calling it “distasteful and insensitive”

Make My Trip announced a range of discount for Pakistani cricket fans visiting India for the high voltage match, based on the number of runs team Pakistan loses by. “AN OPEN INVITATION TO PAKISTANI FANS,” reads the first line of the ad. Then after a brief intro, it goes on to say, “If Pakistan loses by: 10 wickets or 200 runs, get 50% off. Use code: BoysPlayedWell. 6 wickets or 100 runs, get 30% off. Use code: EkShaheenHaar. 3 wickets or 50 runs, get 10% off. Use code: NoMaukaMauka”, read the newspaper ad by Make my Trip.

Meanwhile ‘Homestay and Villas’, a separate entity has issued clarification while distancing themselves from the “disgraceful” ad. “We have no affiliation with this absolutely disgraceful advertisement published by @makemytrip. Our country comes first before any business and we do not serving our property to Pakistan citizens”, the company wrote on ‘X’ (formerly known as twitter). While Makemytrip tried punning their advertisement over the Indian value system “ Atithi Devi Bhave” meaning “the guest is God”, ‘Homestay and Villas’ has affirmed their disdain towards Pakistanis while highlighting the ‘nationalistic’ sentiment.

Netizens have called out both the ad by makemytrip and the statement of ‘Homestay’ of “bad taste”