Political Row Erupts Over India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash After Pahalgam Attack
In Nashik, Maharashtra, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil fired sharp criticism at the Central government on Sunday over the India-Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup. He accused the BJP-led regime of flip-flopping on its stance towards Pakistan, saying their "colour keeps changing every month."
Speaking to reporters, Patil pointed out the inconsistency: "Just two months back, BJP leaders were declaring that blood and water won’t flow together with Pakistan. Now, they’re all set to play cricket against them. This constant U-turn is why our foreign policy keeps failing, and the world has seen it firsthand."
The controversy gained steam after the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorists targeted Hindus, leaving 26 women widowed. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant joined the chorus, slamming the decision to go ahead with the match. "They asked victims if they were Hindus or Muslims and shot the Hindus. Have we seen the heartbreaking response from Aishanya Dwivedi, wife of victim Shubham Dwivedi? We shouldn’t play this game after such a tragedy," Sawant said.
On the other side, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya defended the Indian cricket team’s participation. He stressed that India follows international rules for such tournaments. "We don’t want to play against Pakistan happily, but when it’s part of a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup, we have to join under compulsion," Maurya explained.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, women workers from Shiv Sena (UBT) hit the streets in protest. They opposed India’s involvement in the high-stakes match, holding placards and chanting slogans against playing Pakistan amid rising tensions.
The India vs Pakistan thriller is set for today at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as India’s second Group A fixture in the Asia Cup 2023. Both teams come in strong after wins in their opening games—India beat Nepal, while Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh.
Opposition voices, including from NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT), have demanded a boycott of the India-Pakistan cricket match, citing national security and the fresh Pahalgam terror attack wounds. However, the Central government has given the green light, with no objections to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proceeding in multi-nation tournaments.
This Asia Cup controversy highlights the heated India-Pakistan relations, blending cricket passion with political fire. Fans worldwide are glued, but the debate rages on.
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