Political tensions are running high in India as the Men in Blue prepare to face off against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup T20 match in Dubai.
Several opposition leaders have criticised the government for allowing the match to be held just months after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 Indian nationals were killed.
Leaders from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and other parties have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BCCI president Jay Shah over the decision to play the match.
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Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi Reacts
Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the BJP-led central government’s decision to go ahead with the India–Pakistan cricket match, despite the loss of innocent lives in the Pahalgam terror attack, saying the government has chosen profit and spectacle over compassion and sensitivity.
“The decision of the BJP government to go ahead with the India–Pakistan cricket match exposes its misplaced priorities. Only a few months ago, innocent civilians lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack, and their families continue to bear the pain of that tragedy. Yet this government has chosen profit and spectacle over compassion and sensitivity,” Gogoi said in a post on X.
TMC leader Manoj Tiwary Reacts
TMC leader, former cricketer, and West Bengal Sports Minister Manoj Tiwary said that he was boycotting the match and the Asia Cup.
“I am boycotting the India vs Pakistan match as well as Asia Cup because I cannot watch this. It needs to be understood that this is just a sport; this is not life. We are comparing human lives to sports; this should never be done,” ANI quoted Tiwary as saying.
Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee Reacts
Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “Why India and Pakistan will play again, Amit Shah should be asked this question. His son Jay Shah is the president of the BCCI. The nepotism is running high in the Indian government. The main uncle is Narendra Modi,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut Reacts
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that a true patriot would not watch the match, but some leaders will because their definition of patriotism is different.
“A true patriot will neither watch this match on TV nor go to the stadium. Jay Shah and Anurag Thakur’s sons will definitely go to watch the match because their definition of patriotism is different,” Raut said.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur Reacts
Meanwhile, former Sports Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur, who has also previously headed the BCCI, explained that India is playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup because participation is compulsory. He added if India does not play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, the team will be eliminated from the tournament.
“When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don’t do that, they will be eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match and the other team will get the points. But India doesn’t play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan,” Thakur said.
India and Pakistan are set to clash today at 8 PM at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a Group A encounter. This marks the first meeting between the two teams since the ICC World T20 last year.
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