Mumbai, February 24: President of Navnirman Sena in Maharashtra (MNS) Raj Thackeray has said the Pakistani cricket team should be allowed to play in Mumbai if they reach the final of the Cricket World Cup (CWC).
Thackeray’s statement contradicts a recent decision from the Shiv Sena to oppose any decision to allow Pakistan’s players to compete in Mumbai.
“If Pakistan reaches the final, the cricketers cannot be stopped from playing in Mumbai. Our opposition to Pakistani cricket team remains firm and has not changed,” said Thackeray.
“But there are several teams participating in the CWC. And if during the CWC India and Pakistan reach the final, then it would not be proper to stop the Pakistan cricket team from playing in Mumbai,” Raj added.
The Shiv Sena has said that it would not allow the Pakistan cricket team to play the CWC final in Mumbai, threatening to dig up the pitch at the Wankhede stadium and pour oil on it.
It is confirmed that the CWC final would be played in Mumbai. Sena leaders had announced their opposition to the Pakistan cricket team playing in Mumbai if it reaches the final, adding they would follow any decision taken by Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.
“Cricket is more important than the country for Uddhav (Shiv Sena executive president and cousin of Raj), who had sarcastically told his party workers at a function not to oppose the Pakistani cricketers but to welcome them by falling at their feet,” added Thackeray.
“And this kind of sarcastic words from Uddhav has exposed the hate policy of the Sena toward the Pakistani cricketers.”
In light of the opposing stands taken by the Sena and MNS, all attention is now focused on whether there would be a conflict between the two parties on the issue.
Raj also clarified that the MNS policy against Pakistan for its anti-India activities and sponsoring terrorism is clear and known to all.
However, the party’s policy against Pakistan cannot be extended to the participation of the Pakistan cricket team in the CWC, he added.
-Agencies