Coronavirus: KKR donate to PM CARES Fund; IPL team owner Shah Rukh Khan announces series of initiatives

Kokata Knight Riders (KKR) and their owner Shah Rukh Khan have announced a series of initiatives to help India fight against novel coronavirus (COVID-19). KKR have contributed to PM CARES Fund

Bengaluru: Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have contributed to the ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund) helping India fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

KKR’s co-owner Shah Rukh Khan announced a series of initiatives to “make a small difference”. “Shah Rukh Khan's group companies, Kolkata Knight Riders, Red Chillies Entertainment, Meer Foundation and Red Chillies VFX announced several initiatives to support the efforts of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Government in its COVID-19 fight,” Red Chillies Entertainment said in a statement on Thursday night (April 2).

It tweeted with the statement, “Whilst we stay safe at home,many r working for our safety & fending for themselves. Here's our little contribution to ensure their health & well being! Separate but together,we will overcome! @iamsrk @PMOIndia @narendramodi @OfficeofUT @AUThackeray @MamataOfficial @ArvindKejriwal (sic).”

The statement further said, “Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL franchise co-owned by Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta and Jay Mehta has committed to contributing to the PM Cares Fund. KKR and Meer Foundation will work with the WB (West Bengal) and the Maharashtra governments and contribute 50,000 PPE kits. They will also work to raise awareness to encourage other contributions.”

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh said lauded the efforts of the Union government and state governments of Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal.

He said, “Given the enormity of the task, my team and I discussed ways to contribute in our own modest way. We have come up with a series of initiatives, which we hope will make a small difference. The efforts of our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji coupled with the efforts of the Chief Ministers, Shri Uddhav Thackeray ji, Smt Mamata Banerjee, Shri Arvind Kejriwal and all other States and Union Territories leaders have been commendable in fighting this pandemic. We have initially focused our efforts on the three cities - Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi with the realization that this is a start and we stand ready to contribute in whichever way possible going forward.”

The 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) has been deferred till April 15. It was to start on March 29. KKR have won two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.