Men and women wandering on streets in a bid to catch animated, imaginary creatures sounds innocent enough, right?
But not everybody is cheering the augmented reality video game Pokemon Go.
The Nirvair Khalsa Jatha, a sikh group in Wolverhampton, UK sermonised against the game in a rather witty manner.
Playing on the name Pokemon Go, the guru then claimed how it was actually “pakkad man” go, which translated to capturing the mind.
He asserts how the game is “capturing” our time and energy, rather than players capturing Pokemon.
Backlash from all Quarters, and Countries
This stance against the game is not unique.
Last month, a council of clerics in Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa banning the game. In Egypt, the deputy chair of Al-Azhar University warned people against the “addictive nature” of the game, comparing it to “alcohol and substance abuse.”
On Monday, the Israeli Army warned its soldiers against the use of the app in military bases, calling it a “source for gathering information.”
A senior official of The Indonesian Ulema Council said the game carries “more harm than benefits” as it can make people “intoxicated.”
Back home, the Mumbai police too warned its citizens against the game.
The game, which has been hailed as global phenomena, has created cultural ripples across the world.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)