AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government over its decision to allow the India–Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match to go ahead despite the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. Speaking at a public meeting in Hyderabad’s Darussalaam on Saturday, Owaisi questioned whether the value of the 26 lives lost in the attack was less than the ₹2,000–3,000 crore the BCCI was expected to earn from the high-profile match. He reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his own words that “water and blood cannot flow together” and asked why the same principle was not applied when it came to cricket with Pakistan. According to Owaisi, the ruling BJP’s nationalism weakens whenever big money is at stake.
The AIMIM chief accused the BJP and RSS of ignoring the sacrifices of the victims’ families and instead prioritizing commercial gain. “How can the match be held when we claim to have stopped water under the Indus Treaty? If terror and talks cannot go together, how can terror and cricket go together?” Owaisi asked. He also criticized Congress-era policies and accused the ruling dispensation of hypocrisy, saying that despite promises of strong retaliation, the Centre was turning a blind eye in exchange for financial benefits. At the same time, he pointed out changes to the NCERT syllabus, arguing that Muslims were unfairly being blamed for the partition of India while the roles of leaders like Savarkar and the complicity of Mountbatten and the then Congress government were erased from history.
Moving beyond cricket, Owaisi also called out the government for what he described as selective silence on issues concerning Muslims, both in India and abroad. He urged the Centre to raise its voice against what he termed “genocide” in Gaza, reminding the BJP of its historical support for Palestinians. “If Muslims in Gaza are finished, then no Muslim country will remain safe,” he warned, linking the struggles abroad with the plight of Indian Muslims at home. Owaisi alleged that Indian Muslims continue to face demolitions, targeted killings, and bulldozer politics, adding that the current atmosphere reflects systemic targeting. His fiery remarks come just ahead of the much-anticipated India–Pakistan clash, ensuring that the debate around sports, politics, and national security remains at the centre of public discourse.
