Tejashwi Accuses BJP of Double Standards on Pakistan Cricket

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar’s Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, accusing it of being a “partner of Pakistan” amid controversy surrounding the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai. The remarks come in the wake of a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed over 20 lives, prompting calls from some quarters to boycott the high-profile cricket encounter.

Speaking to journalists in Patna, Yadav took a sharp jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referencing Modi’s past remarks about having “vermilion flowing in his veins” to symbolize his nationalist fervor. “This is a question for the Prime Minister,” Yadav said. “Pakistan is a partner of the BJP, which escalates military tensions, threatens to scrap the Indus Water Treaty, and then agrees to a cricket match at its own convenience.” His comments highlight what he perceives as inconsistent policies by the BJP-led central government, which suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan just a day after the Pahalgam attack, only to allow the cricket match to proceed.

Yadav’s critique frames the Asia Cup match as a political lightning rod, accusing the BJP of using India-Pakistan relations for strategic posturing. The decision to participate in the cricket match, hosted in neutral Dubai due to ongoing tensions, has sparked heated debate, with critics arguing it undermines the gravity of the recent terror attack. The RJD leader suggested that the BJP’s actions—escalating rhetoric with threats of military conflict or treaty suspensions, followed by conciliatory moves like cricket diplomacy—reflect political opportunism rather than a coherent strategy.

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The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in recent years, has reignited tensions over India-Pakistan sporting ties, a historically sensitive issue. Yadav’s remarks tap into public sentiment in Bihar and beyond, where many view the match as ill-timed amid national mourning. As the Asia Cup unfolds, the controversy underscores the complex interplay of sports, politics, and diplomacy, with Tejashwi positioning himself as a vocal critic of the BJP’s handling of India-Pakistan relations.

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