The recent comments made by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor about the Indian cricket team refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players at the Asia Cup have caused a huge political crisis. On Thursday, Tharoor condemned the act, saying that the ethos of sports should remain uncontaminated by political and military wrangles.
The leader of the Congress party used the 1999 Kargil War as an example because, despite the fact that Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice to the nation, India and Pakistan still managed to hold a World Cup match in England. “On the same day that our troops were dying in the service of our country, we played against Pakistan. We shook their hands even then, since the spirit of the game is not what transpires between nations and armies. This is what I believe should be done,” Tharoor says, “and that is to ensure that sportsmanship is not compromised.”
Nevertheless, the BJP reacted with stinging remarks on his remarks, claiming that the Congress has a soft corner for Pakistan. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo tried hard to justify the move by the Indian team not to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers. His claim was that although BCCI and the Indian team had the duty to play against Pakistan according to the rules of ICC, there was no obligation to offer gestures of goodwill. “Why then should we shake hands with Pakistan? We beat them twice in Dubai, and that is what makes India proud. Congress ought to put a halt to expressing its love to Pakistan,” Deo said.
The controversy has again demonstrated the fact that cricket between India and Pakistan is not only a sport, but in most cases it is actually a mirror of the political rivalry between the two countries. Tharoor emphasised preserving the integrity and tradition of the game, but the BJP insisted on using symbolic gestures, such as refusing handshakes, and this sends a powerful message of the Indian attitude towards Pakistan.
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