In a candid interview, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh questioned the wisdom of hosting the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup thriller in Sri Lanka. ‘Relations between the two countries are so fraught that this match shouldn’t have been scheduled at all,’ he stated bluntly.
However, Singh added a crucial caveat: if the game proceeds, players must uphold traditions like handshakes. ‘Bringing politics into sports is wrong. No-handshake orders betray sportsmanship,’ he argued, calling for an end to such interference.
The comments ignite fresh discussions on blending nationalism with cricket’s global ethos. Singh’s stance prioritizes the game’s integrity over symbolic gestures amid India-Pak rivalry.
Turning to Bangladesh, the leader praised the electoral transition and urged PM Modi to intervene on Hindu persecution issues during a potential visit. ‘Raise these concerns forcefully to ensure safety,’ he advised.
Regarding the US trade agreement, Singh critiqued its imbalance. Farmers growing cotton and soybeans in India face stiff competition from tariff-free American imports, he warned, while Indian goods incur heavy export taxes. This, he said, exacerbates local agricultural distress without adequate safeguards.
Countering Congress’s uproar, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the pact. ‘Congress spreads falsehoods on GM crops and DDGs—none approved,’ he retorted. He reminded critics of their own failures to implement fair MSP pricing as per expert panels, accusing them of hypocrisy.
The exchange underscores ongoing tensions in Indian politics, where trade deals become battlegrounds for farmer rights and economic nationalism.