BJP Calls Out Thackeray’s ‘Cricket Hypocrisy’ Ahead of Asia Cup
Thackeray’s Congress ties questioned amid Asia Cup boycott call.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a fierce counterattack against Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, accusing him of hypocrisy for urging a boycott of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match in Dubai while maintaining an alliance with the Congress, a party the BJP claims emboldened Pakistan in the past. The escalating war of words comes ahead of the high-stakes match, the first between the two nations since India’s military strikes on Pakistan’s terror infrastructure in May, following the tragic April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists.
Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye took aim at Thackeray’s call to boycott the match, questioning his sincerity. “Thackeray accuses the BJP of profiting from patriotism, but what about the ‘sindoor’ of Mumbaikars lost in the 26/11 attacks? Why was he silent then?” Upadhye posted on X, referencing the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He accused the Congress-led government under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of failing to act decisively post-26/11, which he claimed strengthened Pakistan’s resolve. “Today, Thackeray embraces the same Congress while criticizing PM Modi, who taught Pakistan a lesson on its own soil,” Upadhye added.
Thackeray, speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday, called the India-Pakistan match an “insult to national sentiments” and urged citizens to boycott it. Invoking his father, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, he said, “If blood and water cannot flow together, how can cricket and blood?” He announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) women workers would collect sindoor (vermilion) to send to the Prime Minister’s Office as a symbolic protest to remind the government of its duty to prioritize national security. Thackeray also recalled Bal Thackeray’s meeting with Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad, where the late leader firmly stated that cricket ties with Pakistan should cease until terror attacks stop.
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The BJP, however, dismissed Thackeray’s protest as political posturing. Maharashtra BJP media cell chief Navnath Ban called Thackeray’s nationalism “hypocritical,” pointing out that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Milind Narvekar serves on the Mumbai Cricket Association’s apex council. “If Thackeray is serious about opposing the match, he should ask Narvekar to resign. Real patriotism starts at home, but this is just a hollow stunt,” Ban told reporters. He further mocked Thackeray, suggesting that Sena (UBT) leaders secretly rejoice when Pakistan wins and challenged them to confront pro-Pakistan elements in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar or Malvani instead of staging symbolic protests.
Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam escalated the attack, sharing a photo of Thackeray with Narvekar on X and questioning whether the Sena (UBT) chief had ever challenged Narvekar’s stance on India-Pakistan cricket. “Thackeray’s agitation is mere drama. He lacks the courage to act within his own party,” Satam said. The BJP also accused the Congress of exacerbating the “Pakistan problem” by granting it ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status in the past, alleging that Thackeray’s alliance with the party contradicts his nationalist rhetoric.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of India’s sports policy, which prohibits bilateral cricket with Pakistan but allows matches in multilateral tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC events. The Dubai clash has reignited debates about sports diplomacy, especially given the recent tensions following the Pahalgam attack. Thackeray’s boycott call has struck a chord with some, who view the match as insensitive, while others see it as a chance to foster dialogue through sport.
The BJP’s sharp rebuttal aims to shift the narrative, framing Thackeray’s protest as politically motivated and inconsistent with his party’s ties to Congress. Upadhye accused the Congress of enabling Pakistan’s conspiracies from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” with Mumbai bearing the brunt during the 26/11 attacks. “Thackeray’s silence back then speaks volumes. Now, he’s allied with the same Congress he once opposed,” he said.
As the India-Pakistan match looms, the political slugfest has added a layer of intensity to an already charged encounter. The BJP’s accusations have put Thackeray on the defensive, while his boycott call has sparked discussions about nationalism, cricket, and diplomacy. With emotions running high, the debate underscores the complex interplay of sports, politics, and national sentiment in India, particularly when it comes to its rivalry with Pakistan.
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