A day before the high-profile India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in Dubai, Opposition parties lashed out at the Prime Minister Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, calling the cricket match a betrayal of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the soldiers martyred at the borders. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went a step further, announcing ‘Sindoor’ protests across Maharashtra.
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, Thackeray said that India should boycott the contest. "Till the time terror does not stop, we shouldn't maintain any relations with Pakistan," he said, adding that the game was “an insult to national sentiments.”
"This cricket match is an insult to national sentiments. Should we be playing cricket with Pakistan while our soldiers sacrifice their lives on the borders?" he asked.
His son Aaditya Thackeray tore into the BCCI, questioning its independence from the government. "Is the BCCI so strong that it can defy PM and defence minister? Does the @BCCI not have any shame? Any feelings for those who were killed in that massacre? Or for our Armed Forces?" he posted on X.
The Aam Aadmi Party too staged protests in the national capital, vowing to “expose” restaurants, pubs, and clubs screening the match. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out on X: "What is the need for the Prime Minister to organise a match with Pakistan? The whole country is saying that this match should not happen. Then why is this match being organised?" He further asked, "Is this also being done under Trump's pressure? How much will you bow down to Trump?"
At a separate event, AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj and party workers burnt an effigy symbolising Pakistani players. "This is a gross humiliation of our women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack, but still our central leadership is going ahead with the India-Pakistan cricket match," he said. Later in a post, he wrote: "Pakistan’s cricket players mock our widows in such a dirty, disgusting way, and we will play cricket with them. Shame on the BJP government."
Aishanya, widow of Shubham Dwivedi, one of the 26 victims killed in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, described the match as “deeply insensitive.” She told news agency PTI, "Their martyrdom holds no value for the BCCI. Perhaps because none of their own were lost."
Meanwhile, BJP leaders and their allies attempted to downplay the row, insisting that bilateral ties with Pakistan remain frozen until Islamabad reins in terrorism. Former sports minister Anurag Thakur clarified in Pune, "If India does not play, the team will be out of the tournament. If India skips one match, the opposite team will get the points." He reiterated that India will not engage in a bilateral series with Pakistan under the current circumstances.
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar struck a middle ground, noting, "The country has a population of 140 crore. In such a vast country, there are bound to be differences of opinion over the cricket match. Some people may feel since relations between the two countries are strained, there should be no match. At the same time, others may support the game."
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena, part of the ruling NDA, dismissed Thackeray’s criticism, accusing him of hypocrisy. "Thackeray, who abandoned Hindutva for power and sings praises of Pakistan, cannot suddenly oppose such matches," party spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said.
The Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and AIMIM also criticised the government’s decision to allow the contest.
Traditional rivals India and Pakistan last met in May during heightened military tensions after India launched strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas. That followed the April attack in Pahalgam which killed mostly tourists.
Thackeray maintained that boycotting the game was an opportunity to send a strong global message. "You were saying Pakistan is spreading terror, and now you are playing cricket with the same country. Is Pakistan a terror state or not? Is it our enemy or not? Soldiers are getting martyred, and these people play cricket. This is not good," he said, adding that Sena (UBT) workers would collect sindoor and send it to the Prime Minister’s Office as part of their protests.
With inputs from PTI
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