India-Pakistan cricket match an insult to national sentiments, says Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray

Thackeray announced Shiv Sena (UBT) protests across Maharashtra when the party's women wing will send sindoor boxes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mumbai: On the eve of the Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent ongoing Operation Sindoor, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the BJP-led Centre  for insulting national sentiments and mixing politics and business with patriotism.

Thackeray announced Shiv Sena (UBT) protests across Maharashtra on Sunday when the party's women wing will send sindoor boxes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Slamming  Modi, he said: "Our Prime Minister said blood and water can't flow together...then how can blood and cricket flow together...how can war and cricket happen at the same time."

"Boycotting the match against Pakistan is an opportunity to convey to the world India's stand on terrorism...playing the match is a joke on patriotism," Thackeray, himself a cricket fan, told reporters on Saturday.

"Should we be playing cricket with Pakistan when our soldiers are sacrificing their lives protecting the borders," the former Maharashtra Chief Minister said.

Thackeray, a key leader of the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc, recalled the meeting at Matoshree when former Pakistan skipper and ace batter Javed Miandad along with Indian cricket icon Dilip Vengsarkar had with late Balasaheb Thackeray. "My father was of the opinion that there will no no cricket untill Pakistan stops engaging in terrorism," he said.

Calling for cancellation of the match, he said: "This is a real test for Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his son (ICC chief) Jay Shah."