India-Pakistan series to honour Ajmal Kasab: Shiv Sena
Regional party in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has attacked the Board for Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its proposal of having India-Pakistan cricket series in Sri lanka in December, saying that it is being done to honour terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Kasab was the the lone terrorist alive in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks 7 years back. attacks, which rocked Mumbai. The Pakistan government recently gave a green signal that the series can go on. With teams still fearing to tour Pakistan, the bilateral series between the two neighbours was to be played in a neutral venue, ideally United Arab Emirates (UAE). But Sri Lanka has offered to host the matches as goodwill gesture.
According to Shiv Sena’s editorial piece in Saamna, “It seems as if the 26/11 was not a blood-shed and Pakistan had sent its cricket team who made a double century by killing innocent people and 20 policemen. It looks like Sri Lanka has been chosen to award Kasab and his team with medals.” the editorial said. READ: Pakistan government give green signal for series against India in Sri Lanka
“The bilateral series is not being played in Pakistan because of the terror threat, and patriots like Shiv Sainiks are not allowing the match in India. But the people in the cricket board don`t have any concerns about the innocent lives of civilians and security personnel being snuffed by the hands of the Pakistani militants,” the editorial added.
However, the Shiv Sena asserted that it was good that the Ministry of External Affairs had still not given green signal to the bilateral series.
“It would be better that same determination should be shown by the Centre in putting a check at the BCCI,” the editorial said.
Indian Premier league (IPL) Rajeev Shukla had confirmed that India and Pakistan will resume cricketing ties after long gap. This is the first time that a member of the board has confirmed of the series. He said, “India and Pakistan will play about five matches and that will be a beginning of the cricketing relationship between them.” The Indian Government has however not given any confirmation of the series. This is however not the first time that the Shiv Sena had opposed the series.
In October, Shiv Sena workers barged into the President Shashank Manohar’s office at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to warn him against meeting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Shahryar Khan, who was in Mumbai to have a discussion about the possibility of the series. Manohar did not meet with Shahryar, but they met in Dubai, where the deal was finalised.