‘My conscience does not allow me to watch India-Pakistan match’ AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said yesterday; Does the government has the courage to call families of those who died and say that we took revenge in Operation Sindoor and now you watch the Pakistan match, he also questioned, raising a larger question on whether India and Pakistan should engage in such activities in current circumstances.
On the first day of the debate on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack, the Lok Sabha witnessed fierce exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition’ benches. Many statements were made on US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims on him brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
An interesting part was a cheeky dig by Congress’ Deepinder Hooda at the Narendra Modi government. Hooda said, “Donald ko chup karao, Donald ka muh band karao ya phir Hindustan mein McDonald’s ko band karao,” basically telling the government first “silence” Donald Trump on the issue of ceasefire.
However, what really grabbed attention was AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s comments connecting the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match and the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost. There has been much backlash in social media ever since the date of the match was announced.
Voicing discomfort over watching the Asia Cup match scheduled just three months after the Pahalgam terror attack, Owaisi said “when Pakistan’s aircraft cannot come into our airspace, their boat cannot come into our water, trade has ended, how will you play a cricket match with Pakistan? When we are not giving water, we are stopping 80 percent of Pakistan’s water, saying that blood and water will not flow, you will play a cricket match”.
“My conscience does not allow me to watch that match,” said the Hyderabad MP, who has also been part of the government’s outreach initiative following Operation Sindoor.
Speaking on the floor of Lok Sabha, Owaisi also asked if the government has the courage to call families of those who died and say that we took revenge in Operation Sindoor and now you watch the Pakistan match, thus raising a larger question on whether India and Pakistan should engage in such activities in the current circumstances.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to play a group stage match on September 14, as per the Asia Cup 2025 schedule.
However, despite widespread criticism and backlash, the India-Pakistan match cannot be cancelled, say experts
“This is not a bilateral contest but a multi-nation tournament. If India does not play or forfeit the match, it may get sanctioned by the Asian Cricket Council/ICC. It will also give Pakistan a huge advantage, giving them a walkover,” they add.
