Maharashtra government minister Ashish Shelar targeted the Shiv Sena (Ubatha) for opposing India and Pakistan’s match in the Asia Cup cricket tournament on Friday and said that international sports events could not be affected by bilateral political stunnings.
Speaking to reporters, the state’s cultural affairs minister accused Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut of taking an ‘anti -India’ stand on the issue.
Shelar said, “Our stand has always been clear that the Indian cricket team will not visit Pakistan and Pakistan will not visit India.” However, we cannot stop our team from playing or participating in an international tournament. What is this stance? This is not a proper stance. ”
Raut on Thursday said that Shiv Sena (Ubatha) would conduct a ‘sindoor defense’ campaign in protest against the match between India and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi under the Asia Cup tournament on 14 September.
He said that playing cricket with Pakistan is ‘betrayal’.
Criticizing Raut’s stance, Shelar said that Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad was once invited to the residence of the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
He said, “Those who are now opposing India’s participation should remember that Balasaheb had hosted Miandad at his home.”
The BJP leader also condemned an alleged video in which some people are seen offering milk on a poster of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
He alleged, “We will not only condemn such acts, but will also oppose them.” The Shiv Sena (Ubatha) and its allies are keeping selected silence with the Congress due to their political equations. He is vocal against changing the name of a metro station in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but is keeping silence on Aurangzeb’s glory. ”
On the upcoming Brihanmumbai Metropolitan Municipality (BMC) elections, Shelar said that BJP will contest elections with the Shiv Sena and NCP and will choose the mayor.
He said, “We will fight and win.”
He also targeted the opposition ‘India’ alliance and claimed that he could not recover from the election defeat.
On the speculation of cross-voting in favor of NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan by some members of the opposition alliance in the Vice Presidential election, Shelar said, “I want to thank Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar that he helped us vote more than his real number in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. I will not make any comment on this publicly. ”
Shelar also dismissed the allegations of ‘conflict of interest’ on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as part of the ‘paid campaign’.
The Congress had alleged last week that Gadkari is ‘aggressively advocating’ for ethanol production, while his two sons are associated with the ethanol -making companies and are ‘benefiting’ from government policies.
Shelar said, “There is not a single stain on Gadkari and his family’s personal or public life. People whose commercial interests are affected try to tarnish the image of such leaders. I am in full doubt that ‘Urban Naxal’ is behind it. ‘
The BJP often accuses intellectuals and some opposition leaders of urban areas of being “urban Naxal”. The ruling party claims that these people support the Naxalites.
He said that the BJP government would never back down from the decisions taken in the public interest, including promoting environment-friendly ethanol-melted fuel.
Shelar said, “The country supports the environment-friendly fuel policy. Poor people and environmental workers have supported this. ”
