Congress MP KC Venugopal Slams BJP Over India-Pakistan Asia Cup Match and China Ties
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Congress MP KC Venugopal fired sharp criticism at the BJP-led central government on Sunday over the ongoing India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match. He demanded answers from the ruling party, pointing to what he called their double standards on national security and patriotism.
Speaking in Bhubaneswar, Venugopal highlighted how the BJP attacks Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whenever he raises concerns about China in Parliament. "They label Rahul Gandhi as a ‘China man’ for talking about it," Venugopal said. But he pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin without any backlash. "Those shouting about patriotism need to explain this. Our PM goes to China and chats with them—no issue there. The BJP just spins false narratives. They must answer for it," he added.
Venugopal didn’t stop there. He accused the BJP of ignoring people’s welfare and focusing instead on dividing the nation. "BJP isn’t interested in real development for Indians. They just want to split us along lines— that’s their game everywhere," he said.
The controversy ties into the heated India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 match, which kicked off in Dubai on Sunday. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams came in strong after wins in their opening games, making this a high-stakes clash in the Asia Cup tournament.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed similar sentiments, urging fans to boycott the game. "This isn’t India versus Pakistan—it’s BCCI versus Pakistan," she said. Chaturvedi argued that true Team India wouldn’t play against "terrorists" or hurt national sentiments. "They say no bilateral matches with Pakistan due to security shifts—no trade or talks with terror. So why play in multilateral tournaments like Asia Cup? I request everyone to boycott this India-Pakistan match," she added.
Opposition voices have pushed hard for a boycott ahead of the Asia Cup fixture, citing India’s firm stance against Pakistan amid cross-border tensions. However, the central government gave the green light, stating no objections to the Indian cricket team facing Pakistan in multi-nation events like the Asia Cup.
As the match unfolds, the political row adds extra drama to this classic rivalry, with fans and leaders alike watching closely.
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