Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the BJP government for not halting the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan despite the terror attack and killing of civilians in Pahalgam.
Mr. Owaisi was addressing the Jalsa Rahmatul-lil-Alameen public meeting in Darussalaam on the intervening night of September 13 and 14, where he accused the BJP of putting commercial gain over national interest.
Mr. Owaisi sought to know on what grounds the cricket match against Pakistan was being permitted when terrorists had singled out victims in Pahalgam based on religion and shot them dead. “If your daughter were killed would you still play? How much revenue will come ₹600 crore or ₹700 crore? Even if it is ₹2,000 crore, is the money more precious than the lives of 26 Indian citizens?” he asked. He said the BJP has been making tall claims of patriotism but was “being run out and stumped” when it came to the cricket match.
Terming Pakistan a “failed state”, and continuing his relentless criticism of the government’s decision, he said, “Despite the 56-inch chest of the Prime Minister, the match is being played. No problem if we had not won a trophy. If cricket is bilateral, then even water is bilateral. When we have blocked water under the Indus treaty, how are we playing cricket?”
