New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): Congress leader Mumtaz Patel on Sunday opposed the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, questioning why this match is being played when everything else is boycotted.
Speaking with ANI, Mumtaz Patel said, "As an Indian and as an Indian of conscious nature and in regards to what happened to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the sentiments of their families and the countless crores of Indians, definitely not in the favour of this match because if we decided to boycott everything with Pakistan, if we decided to stop the water, if we decided to ban Pakistani channels, if we decided to stop business, if we decided to stop artists from coming and going from India and Pakistan, then I wonder why this India Pakistan match is happening."
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly opposed the India-Pakistan cricket match, stating that this match is not between India versus Pakistan but BCCI versus Pakistan.
Priyanka Chaturvedi urged people to boycott, "This match is not India versus Pakistan, but BCCI versus Pakistan. Because the real Team India will not play with terrorists, nor will it hurt the sentiments of the people in the country."
"They are arguing that we don't play bilateral matches, but can't refuse to play multilateral matches. They said there's a paradigm shift in India's security interests, there will be no trade with terror, talks with terror. I request everyone to boycott this match," she added.
The high-voltage contest is underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with Pakistan opting to bat first after winning the toss. Both teams are heading into the contest on the back of convincing wins in their respective openers.
Ahead of the clash, there had been a widespread demand from the opposition to boycott the match. However, the Centre had issued no objection from the Indian team to playing against Pakistan in any multi-nation tournament. (ANI)
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