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Owaisi accused the ruling party of prioritising financial gains over national sentiment and the loss of innocent lives
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (PTI Image)
Amid boycott calls for the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the central government for permitting the game, despite tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Speaking at a public event, Owaisi accused the ruling party of prioritising financial gains over national sentiment and the loss of innocent lives.
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“My question to the Chief Minister of Assam, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and others is—do you not have the power to refuse a cricket match against Pakistan, a country that asked for the religion of our 26 citizens in Pahalgam before killing them?” he said.
He went on to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly: “When you said blood and water cannot flow together, that dialogue and terrorism cannot go hand in hand, then how much money will the BCCI get from this match—₹2,000 crore, ₹3,000 crore? Is that money worth more than the lives of our 26 citizens?”
Owaisi insisted that his party would continue to stand with the victims’ families: “We stood with those 26 citizens yesterday, we stand with them today, and we will stand with them tomorrow.”
Opposition Joins Boycott Calls
His remarks echoed a chorus of opposition voices urging the government and the BCCI to cancel the game, scheduled for Sunday evening in Dubai after being shifted from India amid political tensions.
AAP leaders staged a protest in Delhi on Saturday, burning an effigy bearing Pakistan’s name.
Former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj urged citizens to boycott clubs and restaurants showing the match: “The government is forcing our cricketers to play with people who wiped the sindoor of our sisters. We will expose venues that screen the game.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi appealed directly to citizens on X: “If BCCI and the Government of India can’t call off the match, it’s time we boycott watching it. Let us stand with the 26 families of the Pahalgam victims.”
Party chief Uddhav Thackeray, citing PM Modi’s own “blood and water cannot flow together” remark, accused the BJP of turning patriotism into a business: “How can war and cricket coexist? They only want money.”
Families Of Victims Voice Anguish
Relatives of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack also expressed outrage.
Sawan Parmar, whose nephew died in the incident, said: “We were very disturbed to hear about the match. No connection should remain with Pakistan. If you want the match, bring me back my 16-year-old brother who was riddled with bullets. Operation Sindoor feels meaningless now.”
Aishanya Dwivedi, who lost her husband, condemned the decision: “It is wrong for India to play Pakistan. It seems BCCI has no feelings for those 26 people. They don’t value it because no one from their family died. Even players can take a stand.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders pushed back, saying the outrage was misplaced.
Party leader Dilip Ghosh argued that cricket matches were played with Pakistan even during Congress governments: “Their patriotism only awakens when there is a match. We have defeated Pakistan in war and on their own soil. We will beat them on foreign soil too. Why should we withdraw from the field?”
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said sports and politics should not be conflated: “Operation Sindoor and the match are separate issues. The players have worked hard, and it is not fair to oppose the game. The decision has been taken after due consideration.”
The high-profile India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash is set to begin at 8 pm in the UAE, a venue chosen after political tensions made it unviable to host the tournament in India.
About the Author
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be…Read More
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be… Read More
September 14, 2025, 11:08 IST
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