Maharashtra Minister Mocks Aaditya Thackeray Over India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Match
Mumbai: In a sharp jab at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane took a dig on Saturday, saying Thackeray would sneak into the upcoming India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match dressed in a burqa. The high-stakes cricket clash is set for September 14 in Dubai, and tensions are running high ahead of this first international India-Pakistan encounter since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Talking to reporters, Rane quipped that Thackeray could slip in unnoticed by wearing a burqa and speaking in a woman’s voice. "His voice will help him blend in perfectly. No one would even recognize it’s Aaditya Thackeray," Rane said with a laugh, poking fun at the Shiv Sena leader’s vocal opposition to the match.
Rane didn’t stop there. He questioned whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has any right to criticize the India-Pakistan cricket match. He accused the party of staying quiet during a rally by one of their MPs, where pro-Pakistan slogans like "Pakistan Zindabad" echoed, green flags waved, and chants of "aar tan se juda" rang out. "Why didn’t they show anger towards Pakistan back then? Does Saamana or Uddhav Thackeray have the moral right to comment on the India vs Pakistan match now?" Rane asked, highlighting what he called their hypocrisy.
Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray fired back at the government’s decision to let the Indian cricket team play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. Addressing the media, he slammed the mix of politics, business, and patriotism. "Our Prime Minister once said blood and water can’t flow together—so how can blood and cricket mix? How can war and cricket happen side by side?" Thackeray charged that the government is turning patriotism into a money-making scheme. "They’re playing the match tomorrow just to grab the cash from it," he added.
To protest, Thackeray announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) women workers will hit the streets across Maharashtra on Sunday. "They’ll send sindoor from every household to PM Modi as a symbolic message," he said.
The controversy has sparked widespread calls from the opposition to boycott the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 game, but the central government has given the green light for the Indian team to compete in multi-nation tournaments like this one. As cricket fans gear up for the thrilling showdown, the political drama adds extra spice to what promises to be an unforgettable match.
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