Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT faction) leader Sanjay Raut has sharply criticized Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for his recent comments on the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match. Raut's remarks come in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the loss of 26 lives.
Ajit Pawar had suggested that the cricket match should be viewed purely from a sporting perspective, emphasizing the constitutional right to express one's opinion. He urged against politicising the event, stating, "Some opposition parties seek to make an issue out of everything, but this should not become an emotional matter."
In response, Sanjay Raut expressed his outrage, stating, "Ajit Pawar's veins carry the blood of Pakistanis. He is half-Pakistani." He further criticized Pawar's comments, suggesting that if any of the 26 victims from the Pahalgam attack had been related to him, he would not have made such statements.
Raut also targeted Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, labeling his faction as "not a party but a small company of Amit Shah," and questioned their understanding of the nation's sentiments.
Additionally, Raut alleged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), under the influence of BJP and its president Jay Shah, is pressuring players to participate in the match despite their reluctance. He claimed that several players are opposed to playing against Pakistan but are compelled due to external pressures.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) has organized statewide protests under the banner "Maje Kunku, Maza Desh" (My Vermilion, My Country), expressing their opposition to the India-Pakistan cricket match.
Ajit Pawar's Take On Ind vs Pak Boycott
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar criticized opposition leaders for raising the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match as an issue, calling it trivial compared to pressing concerns like heavy rainfall, crop damage, and traffic jams. Responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s remarks condemning the match shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pawar said opinions differ, with some opposing any ties with Pakistan while others enjoy the sporting event.
He emphasized that the opposition should focus on significant issues rather than “non-issues” like the cricket match. Pawar also dismissed allegations of vote manipulation, calling them baseless and misleading.
