Virat Kohli to be Uttarakhand’s goodwill ambassador

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 6

Besides playing for the country, cricketer Virat Kohli will now be seen in a new role of goodwill ambassador of Uttarakhand.

The ace cricketer has accepted the responsibility entrusted by Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Through a letter, the latter had offered to appoint him as a goodwill brand ambassador of the state and Kohli had accepted the offer through an e-mail sent on April 3.

Kohli joins the ranks of Abhishek Bachchan and other actors who have been given the honorific title of goodwill ambassadors of a state or an international organisation and have been seen promoting the causes.

While Kohli has not only agreed to promote the state but has also accepted the invitation to visit the Kedarnath shrine during the Char Dham Yatra, it remains to be seen how involved Kohli would be in this endeavour during his off-field duties.

The Uttarakhand government is hoping that the visit by the cricketer during the Char Dham Yatra would help in giving a message to the country that things are normal in the state, more so after the 2013 floods, that had devastated the state.

In the past, cricketer Mahinder Singh Dhoni too was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for conservation of tigers, but the cricketer remained elusive as ever.

BJP chief Teerath Singh Rawat has already fired a salvo against the Congress government for indulging in meaningless activities. “The government should focus on strengthening the logistics for the Char Dham Yatra and not indulge in such trivial pursuits,” said Rawat.

On the other hand, several actors and players have taken the roles of goodwill ambassadors seriously and have been seen actively promoting the cause. As goodwill ambassador of the state of Maharashtra, actor Abhishek has been seen actively promoting the Swachh Abhiyan.

In case Kohli plans to visit the Kedarnath shrine, he will not only be treated as a state guest but also the Uttarakhand government will bestow him with all the facilities extended to a Cabinet Minister, including the facility of a helicopter for the darshan, security, escort and stay at the state guest house.