The recent killings of civilians and security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir have prompted calls for the match, which is planned for October 24, to be canceled or at least reviewed.
What happened in Kashmir?
Jammu and Kashmir have seen a rash of intentional killings of people, particularly non-locals, in recent days. Two non-local laborers were killed on Sunday in the Wanpoh region of Kulgam when militants opened fire on them indiscriminately.
Terrorists shot and killed a gol-gappa vendor from Bihar and a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh in the Union Territory on Friday.
India-Pakistan match
On October 24 (Sunday), arch-rivals India and Pakistan will begin their respective campaigns at the ICC World T20 2021 in Dubai. However, politicians in India have dominated the build-up to the match, requesting that it be canceled or at the very least reviewed considering recent fatalities of civilians and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
Here’s what politicians have said about the election, either personally or on behalf of their parties:
- Union Minister Giriraj Singh
The cricket match between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup should be reviewed, according to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, because the ties between the two nations are “not good.”
Giriraj Singh said, “I think if relations (between India and Pakistan) are not good then this should be reconsidered.”
- Union Minister and Republic Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale
Ramdas Athawale said, “India should not play Pakistan. The neighboring country has not learned its lesson. So, there should be an ‘aar paar ki ladaai’ (all-out war). It is Pakistan’s ploy not to allow development in the Valley.”
- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi
The leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen did not demand the match to be called off, but he did make a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Owaisi said, “PM Modi never speaks on two things: rise in petrol and diesel prices and China sitting in our territory in Ladakh. He is afraid of speaking in China. Our nine soldiers died in J&K, and on October 24 India-Pakistan T20 match will happen.”
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi
Atishi said, “We see that people are being attacked in Kashmir. I’m sure that even the PM agrees with the stand of not conducting the match. When his BJP was in opposition, he used to question why, when state-sponsored terrorism is taking place in India, we should with Pakistan?”
- Punjab Minister and former Olympian Pargat Singh
Pargat Singh said, “India vs Pakistan match shouldn’t be held because the situation at the border isn’t ideal, and both the countries are currently going through a stressful period.”
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
As per the statement released by the vice-president of BCCI, he said “We strongly condemn the killings. However, under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) commitments, you can’t refuse to play anyone.”
This isn’t the first time that such a request has been put forward. In 2019, numerous people advocated for the BCCI to boycott the 50-over World Cup match against Pakistan because of the Pulwama suicide incident that occurred earlier that year.
