Bengaluru: MLA Pradeep Eshwar slams Centre, says will not watch India-Pakistan match

As excitement builds for the Asia Cup T20 clash between India and Pakistan today, political voices have emerged questioning whether the match should go ahead in the wake of recent tensions. Karnataka MLA Pradeep Eshwar has openly criticized the central government, declaring he will not watch the high-profile encounter.

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Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Eshwar alleged that the BJP-led government failed to prevent the match from taking place despite public anger over the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 tourists, including several from Karnataka, lost their lives. He said Pakistan was responsible for the attack and questioned how the government could allow a sporting contest against the neighboring country under such circumstances.

The memory of the Pahalgam incident still hurts

“With what face are they playing this match? The memory of the Pahalgam incident still hurts,” Eshwar remarked. He further accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah, and the BCCI, of prioritizing business interests over national sentiment.

Targeting BJP leaders in Karnataka, including R. Ashok, B.Y. Vijayendra and Basanagouda Yatnal, Eshwar challenged them to demand cancellation of the match if they truly oppose Pakistan. “If our party was in power at the Centre, we would have canceled the game,” he asserted.

The India-Pakistan rivalry remains one of the most anticipated events in cricket, but political opposition highlights the continuing tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam tragedy.