Widespread criticism has erupted over India’s cricket match against Pakistan, with opposition parties labelling it an affront to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives on the border.
On April 22, Pakistani terrorists carried out an attack in the Baisaran meadow of south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, killing 26 civilians, predominantly tourists. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray announced ‘Sindoor’ protests across Maharashtra, stating that boycotting the match is a chance to convey India’s stance on terrorism to the world.
“Till the time terror does not stop, we shouldn't maintain any relations with Pakistan,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday. Targeting the BJP, he questioned whether the government would announce that Operation Sindoor has been halted and urged patriots not to watch the match, as the wounds of the Pahalgam attack remain raw.
“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?” Thackeray asked.
Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with party workers, burnt an effigy symbolising Pakistani players in the national capital.
“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,” Bharadwaj told reporters.
Later, in a post on X in Hindi, he added, “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, the widow of Kanpur businessman Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, appealed to the public to boycott the match.
Speaking to mediapersons, she described the decision as “deeply insensitive” and accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of disregarding the sentiments of the victims' families. “Their martyrdom holds no value for the BCCI. Perhaps because none of their own were lost,” she said. Leaders of the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and AIMIM have also condemned the decision to play Pakistan.
Shinde-led Sena counters Thackeray
The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, retaliated against Thackeray, asserting that he had no moral authority to oppose the match.
“Thackeray, who abandoned Hindutva for power and sings praises of Pakistan, cannot suddenly oppose such matches,” said Naresh Mhaske, MP and spokesperson of the Shinde Sena.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, noted that while the decision regarding the match was made at the appropriate forum, it was natural for differing opinions to emerge.
“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,” Pawar told reporters.
Also Read: Why not play cricket with Pakistan?
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