14 September,2025 10:46 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule called the match "unfortunate", especially as the victims` families are still waiting for justice. File Pic
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Supriya Sule on Sunday criticised the Union government for allowing India to play a cricket match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, reported the PTI.
Sule called the match "unfortunate", especially as the victims' families are still waiting for justice.
This was the first India-Pakistan cricket match since the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed by terrorists allegedly supported by Pakistan. In response, India carried out Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
According to the PTI, Sule, the Baramati MP said, "The families of those 26 victims are still seeking justice, but the government allowed the cricket match to go ahead."
She reminded the public that the Union government had earlier claimed there would be no talks with Pakistan, stating that "blood and water cannot flow together."
"We were told there would be no dialogue with Pakistan. Now, while we're not speaking to them, we're still playing cricket matches -- that's tragic," she added, as per the PTI.
Supriya Sule said her party had supported Operation Sindoor wholeheartedly, and she stressed that national interest should always come before political or family interests.
"Our principle is: nation first, then state, then party, and lastly family. We should all unite and protest against today's India-Pakistan match," she said, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) party workers on Sunday protested against the India-Pakistan cricket match in Asia Cup 2025.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier announced that it will protest against the BJP-led government's permission for the India-Pakistan cricket match despite recent Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.
The party expressed strong objections for allegedly ignoring the nation's emotions for the sake of business and entertainment.
The protest was led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Tukaram (Suresh) Patil and party's Women's Wing leader Pragya Sakpal. It was joined by a large number of Shiv Sena office-bearers, Yuva Sena leaders and party members from Ghatkopar West, Ghatkopar East, and Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituencies, an official statement said.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray hit out at the Centre over the scheduled India-Pakistan cricket match in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, stating that engaging in sports with the neighbouring country in the wake of the Pahalgam attack was a "mockery of emotions".
(with PTI inputs)
