Aaditya Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, has strongly criticized the BJP-led central government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allowing the Bangladesh cricket team to continue their tour of India. Thackeray raised concerns about alleged attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh during a period of public unrest against President Sheikh Hasina.
Thackeray questioned the decision to allow the cricket tour in a post on X.com, stating, “The Bangladesh cricket team is on a tour of India and the BCCI is rolling out the red carpet for them. I want to know from the Ministry of External Affairs whether the news circulating on social media and some media outlets about atrocities committed on Hindus is true. And if these reports are accurate, then who is pressuring the central government to allow their tour?” He further pressed, “If Hindus are being subjected to brutality in Bangladesh, then why is the BJP-led government allowing the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India?”
Thackeray also posed an alternative scenario, suggesting that the news of atrocities against Hindus might be fabricated as a ploy by the BJP to spread hatred among communities to win polls. The BJP has been critical of the Shiv Sena (UBT) following their alliance with Congress and NCP (SP), alleging that the party won seats in Lok Sabha polls only due to Muslim votes.
Thackeray’s stance on the cricket tour aligns with his grandfather and Shiv Sena founder, Bal Thackeray, who was known for his strong opposition to cricket matches with Pakistan due to his pro-Hindu stance. Bal Thackeray’s opposition led to the cancellation of several cricket tours with Pakistan, and in 1991, a Shiv Sena functionary even dug up the pitch at Wankhede stadium to prevent an India-Pakistan match from taking place.
In a more recent incident in October 2015, Shiv Sena workers stormed the BCCI office to protest then-BCCI chief Shashank Manohar’s meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan to discuss bilateral series between India and Pakistan. The BJP has not yet responded to Aaditya Thackeray’s remarks regarding the Bangladesh cricket tour.
### Concerns about Atrocities in Bangladesh
The Shiv Sena (UBT) had previously raised concerns about alleged attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh during a period of public unrest against President Sheikh Hasina. Thackeray’s questioning of the decision to allow the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India stems from these concerns, as he seeks clarity on the reported atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.
### Political Angle and Allegations
Thackeray’s criticism of the BJP-led central government and the BCCI also delves into the political angle, with suggestions that the decision to allow the cricket tour could be influenced by political motives. The BJP’s alleged efforts to spread hatred among communities for electoral gains are highlighted in Thackeray’s remarks, showcasing the underlying tensions between the Shiv Sena and the BJP.
### Historical Opposition to Cricket Tours
The Shiv Sena’s opposition to cricket tours with countries like Pakistan, dating back to Bal Thackeray’s era, adds a historical context to Aaditya Thackeray’s stance on the Bangladesh cricket tour. The party’s past actions, including disrupting matches and protesting meetings with cricket board officials, demonstrate a consistent approach to opposing certain cricket tours based on ideological grounds.
In conclusion, Aaditya Thackeray’s criticism of the BJP-led central government and the BCCI for allowing the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India reflects broader concerns about alleged atrocities against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. His questioning of the decision and political allegations add depth to the discussion surrounding the cricket tour, highlighting the complex interplay between sports, politics, and social issues.