MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray declared his opposition to the India-Pak cricket match in the Asia Cup in Dubai slated for Sunday, in view of Operation Sindoor. He said women party workers across the state would protest by collecting packets of sindoor in boxes at public places from Sunday morning and then posting the packages to Prime Minister Modi in a campaign called “Har Ghar Se Sindoor.““Prime Minister Modi said that blood and water cannot flow together, then how can blood and cricket flow together? How can sport and war be held at the same time?” Uddhav asked.“They are not interested in patriotism. They are only interested in the money and trade earned through the tournament,” Thackeray said.The Shiv Sena led by Dy CM Eknath Shinde criticised the UBT Sena, claiming they lacked the moral authority to target the PM Modi-led govt over the match or Operation Sindoor. Sena’s Thane MP Naresh Mhaske said that after the Pahalgam attack, Uddhav was holidaying abroad while Shinde rushed to J&K and actively assisted stranded Maharashtra tourists. “Has the UBT leader even met families of victims killed in the attack? How can they raise questions over Operation Sindoor and initiatives of the NDA govt?” he asked and said PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah were capable of protecting the country. He said NDA’s stance on Pakistan remained unchanged and friendly relations were impossible until terrorism ended.Uddhav said the match was being held though India said Operation Sindoor was not yet over and sent a delegation to other countries to press the point that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in India. “I am asking if BJP will term (ICC chairman) Jay Shah a traitor for watching this match. I am sure many people from India will refuse to watch this match even on TV,” he said.Uddhav said BJP should not compare this to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray receiving Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad at his residence, Matoshree. “The BJP should stay within its limits. Balasaheb received Javed Miandad in his home but told him that as long as Pakistan sponsored terrorism, he would oppose cricket matches between the two countries,” he said. -With inputs by Manoj Badgeri
