Kiren Rijiju and Rahul Gandhi (File photos)
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi called the Congress scion a leader with a “positive mindset”.Lamenting over the Indian cricket team’s decision to skip the customary handshake with the Pakistani team during Sunday’s Asia Cup clash, Afridi said: “This is a despicable mindset, which will continue till the time he (PM Modi) is their head. There are also good ones like Rahul Gandhi with a positive mindset, who wants to cooperate with the World through dialogue. Isn’t Israel enough that you’re trying to become like Israel here?”.Reacting to Afridi’s remark, Union minister Kiren Rijiju called Rahul Gandhi a “darling of Pakistan,” saying “Pakistani people could even make Rahul Gandhi their leader”.”Rahul Gandhi has been the darling of Pakistan! Shahid Afridi and the Pakistani people could even make Rahul Gandhi their leader,” Rijiju wrote on X.BJP’s I-T department chief Amit Malviya also cornered Rahul Gandhi, saying: “When enemies of Bharat start cheering for you, the people of India know exactly where your loyalties lie”. “Rabid Hindu-hater Shahid Afridi, who never misses a chance to spew venom against India and dream of Kashmir joining Pakistan, is suddenly all praise for Rahul Gandhi. Afridi says Rahul wants “dialogue” with Pakistan, while attacking PM Modi by comparing India’s policy on Pakistan to Israel’s actions in Gaza,” Malviya wrote on X. He further wrote: “Why is it that every India-hater finds a friend in Rahul Gandhi? When enemies of Bharat start cheering for you, the people of India know exactly where your loyalties lie.”Hitting back at Malviya, Congress’s social media chairperson Supriya Shrinate posted a photo of Anurag Thakur with Shahid Afridi during an India-Pakistan match that took place in February this year. The controversy erupted after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and India skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not exchange the customary handshake during the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The PCB alleged that Pycroft had specifically instructed Salman to avoid shaking hands with his Indian counterpart.The situation escalated after India’s seven-wicket win when Suryakumar shook hands only with teammate Shivam Dube and walked off without acknowledging the Pakistani players.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws regarding the Spirit of Cricket.However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during the ongoing Asia Cup. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi threatened to withdraw from the remaining Asia Cup 2025 matches if match referee Andy Pycroft is not removed.A PCB source, however, told TOI that “it is very unlikely that the PCB will pull out from the Asia Cup”.
