Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a fierce attack on the central government over the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, accusing it of prioritizing commercial interests over national security and public sentiment.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray strongly objected to the cricketing clash scheduled for September 14, citing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists. “The wounds of Pahalgam have not healed, and yet this government is ready to play cricket with the same Pakistan that spreads terror in our country,” he said.
He further questioned the government’s stance, saying, “Our Prime Minister says blood and water cannot flow together. Then how can war and sport go hand in hand? This is hypocrisy. They have turned patriotism into a business. All they care about is money, not the lives of our people.”
Thackeray also announced a symbolic protest to express his dissent. Women workers of Shiv Sena (UBT) will collect sindoor boxes from households across Maharashtra and send them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “If Operation Sindoor was halted, we will ask Modi ji why. Tomorrow, every house will send sindoor to remind him of the sacrifices our citizens made,” he declared.
Joining the chorus of criticism, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned the Prime Minister’s urgency in holding the India-Pakistan match amid strained bilateral ties. “Why is the Prime Minister so desperate to hold this match with Pakistan? The entire nation says it should not happen. Is this being done under pressure from President Trump? How long will you keep bowing before him?” Kejriwal wrote on X.
The controversy has reignited the national debate over sporting ties with Pakistan. Former cricketers, sports analysts, and public figures have also voiced concerns, urging the Indian cricket team to boycott the fixture. Since the 2012-13 season, India and Pakistan have avoided bilateral series, meeting only in multi-nation tournaments.
