News Analysis India

Tag: T20 World Cup

  • Will Dinesh Karthik’s RCB showing revive his India T20 World Cup dreams?

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

  • Will Dinesh Karthik’s RCB showing revive his India T20 World Cup dreams?

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

  • T20 World Cup dream keeping Dinesh Karthik’s fire burning brighter than ever

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Days after taking India home in the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh in 2018 with an unbeaten eight-ball 29, Dinesh Karthik was asked to compare his finishing skills with MS Dhoni. Without taking a pause, Karthik had an answer: “When it comes to Dhoni — I am studying in a university where he is the topper. He is one of the guys I have always looked up to. It is unfair to compare me with him.”

    That reply revealed a lot about where Karthik or “DK” stood in terms of his game. From the time he made his debut to the last time he was dropped after the 2019 World Cup, DK has been a man for all seasons and spots. Opener injured, call up DK. Middle-order batter needed? Include DK. A back-up for the wicketkeeper is required? “DK, please fill in.” This has been the story for most of his international career which includes 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is starting from 2004 to 2019.

    Last year, when DK had a successful commentary gig with Sky Sports, and the call-up to the national team seemed the farthest ever, there were even questions as to whether he is giving up his playing career. A seamless transition had taken place. But, he came back to finish the IPL leg for Kolkata Knight Riders, before being acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

    In a batting line-up comprising Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, you knew what RCB were looking for. A reliable hand to don the finisher role. After all, this has been their Achilles heel in the past. After showing what he can do in their first match against Punjab Kings, where his 14-ball 32 powered RCB to 205, on Tuesday, against Rajasthan Royals, he showed how much he has evolved as a finisher.

    Chasing 170, Karthik walked in with RCB reeling at 87/5 in the 13th over. After playing three balls, he was set to face R Ashwin, a bowler who is familiar to him and had bowled three quite overs. And after two balls where DK and Shabhaz Ahmed exchanged singles, the former showed that face of the finisher, which is becoming a more and more dangerous sight for the opposition. A four off a no-ball, followed by a six over long-on and two fours – one over mid-off and a reverse-sweep — is all that took DK to get momentum back in RCB’s favour, which they never let go off.

    It was DK showing his range as a finisher. And unlike Dhoni, who prefers to take it deep, DK isn’t as premeditated. He is willing to be bold enough to take risks, from the word go.

    “I made a conscious effort to do justice to myself because I felt last year I could’ve done a little better. The way I trained was a little different – hats off to the person I trained with. He put me through some things which was very important for me in life as well. I say that only because I was making a conscious effort to tell myself that I’m not done yet. I have a goal and I want to achieve something and I tried my best in terms of preparation,” Karthik told Star Sports.

    And behind the scenes, despite the selection doors seeming all but shut, he has worked his back off. “He has been working on a planned schedule and it was the first thing he told me when I came on board. He told under no circumstances, he is willing to even miss a practice session and asked to plan everything around it. Even if it involved excessive travelling, he was willing to do that” says V Balaji, Karthik’s manager.

    After the commentary stint with Sky Sports, DK played domestic cricket, but this season preferred to stay away from Ranji Trophy to focus his full attention to white-ball cricket for Tamil Nadu. “Once the IPL auction was over, all that he wanted was to do justice to himself and show he has a lot left in him. And try and look at one possible return for the World Cup. He told me, ‘Anna, the fire to play one more World Cup is burning’,” Balaji added.

    This unflinching desire to make a return has seen DK carry his kit bag almost wherever he goes. According to Balaji, even though his UK visa allowed him to get paid only for broadcasting, DK was keen on playing. “He kept asking me to find a club and because of visa restrictions, he could play only in the lower leagues and he did without taking a pound. He batted, kept wickets and was at all times trying to prove himself that he isn’t a spent man,” Balaji said.

    And since the auction got over, DK kept travelling between Mumbai and Bangalore for batting and wicketkeeping training separately. A detailed plan was put in place, where even if he had advertisement shoots and social media engagements, his practice sessions won’t be compromised for any reason. In the midst of everything, Karthik even played a game in Theni district in Tamil Nadu for his club India Cements.

    With competition for places crowded as ever in the Indian team, and a whole lot of names doing the rounds for the finisher’s role, DK is sending reminders after reminders hopeful of another comeback.

    “I think he needs to put his name back into international cricket, doesn’t he?” Du Plessis said.

    And maybe the time is also right to ask the question to DK, “Did he graduate from Dhoni’s University as a topper?”

  • UP: Man files FIR against in-laws, wife for WhatsApp status after India-Pakistan T20 match

    By ANI

    RAMPUR: A man filed an FIR against his estranged wife and in-laws in Rampur for allegedly posting a ‘disrespectful’ WhatsApp status on Team India following the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match.

    The complainant Ishan Miyan is a resident of Shangankheda village. According to his complaint, his estranged wife and in-laws made fun of the Indian cricket team on their WhatsApp status after India lost to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup match on October 24.

    “The FIR has been registered and the matter is being investigated,” said Superintendant of Police Ankit Mittal.

  • Man held on sedition charges in MP for pro-Pakistan comments after T20 World Cup match

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district on charges of sedition for allegedly making pro-Pakistan comments after the neighbouring country’s victory over India in a recent match of the ongoing T20 cricket World Cup, an official said on Monday.

    The FIR was registered against the man on Sunday night at Maihar police station following a complaint by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Satna district secretary Anurag Mishra and others.

    “The man, identified as Mohammed Farooq, 23, has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 124-A (sedition), 153-B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 505 (public mischief) following the complaint,” Maihar’s sub-divisional officer of police Himali Soni said over phone.

    ALSO READ | India-Pakistan match: Agra lawyers refuse legal help to sedition-charged Kashmir students

    She said after being arrested, Farooq was on Monday produced before a local court which sent him to jail.

    According to the FIR, Farooq allegedly posted comments “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Babar Azam Zindabad” on the timeline of another Facebook user, identified as Sahil Khan, after Pakistan’s victory in the T20 World Cup match against India on October 24.

    Babar Azam is the Pakistan team’s captain in the T20 World Cup championship.

    ​ALSO READ | Kashmiri students held over pro-Pakistan slogans booked for sedition, sent to 14-day judicial custody

    Farooq’s comments came after Khan in his Facebook post said “even though Pakistan has won the match, India has won our hearts” along with pictures of captains of both the teams, the FIR said quoting the complaint.

    According to the complainants, Farooq’s post in favour of the neighbouring country after India’s defeat hurt the sentiments of patriots and falls under the charge of sedition, the FIR said.

    In the past one week, a number of people were arrested or detained in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on similar charges.

    On October 24, Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets in a Super 12 game for their first win in 13 attempts over the arch-rivals India in the World Cup match.

  • ‘Forgive and release our sons’: Families of three Kashmiri students appeal to Yogi government

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  The families of three Kashmiri youth arrested in Agra for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s win over India in a T20 cricket match have appealed to the UP government to forgive and release the trio.

    Showkat Ahmed Ganai, Arshad Yusuf and Inayat Altaf, the arrested trio, are students of Raja Balwant Singh College in Agra and study in the college under the PM Special Scholarship Scheme.

    Mohammad Shaban Ganai said his son Showkat was in final year of his B.Tech course.

    “He was arrested after the India-Pakistan match and lodged at the Agra central jail. We don’t know what has happened. If our sons have committed anything wrong, we apologise to authorities on their behalf. We urge the government to release them so that their career is not ruined,” he said.

    Showkat’s mother also requested for her son’s release.

    “I plead to authorities with folded hands that Showkat and the two other arrested students be released. I apologise to the government on their behalf.” 

    While Showkat is from Bandipora district, Yusuf and Altaf are from Budgam district.

    The widowed mother of Yusuf said the family was very poor.

    “He is our last hope of livelihood. We apologise to authorities on his behalf and urge them to release him,” the distraught mother said, adding that she doesn’t have resource to reach Agra for meeting her son.

    “We appeal the government to intervene on humanitarian grounds and release Yusuf and the two students.”

    Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also came out in support of the three students.

    “The college authorities have given these students a clean chit & confirmed they didn’t shout any slogans. Rather than taking the college assurance at face value, the UP police is victimising these poor kids,” he tweeted.

    The People Conference said punitive actions and harsh measures would further alienate young Kashmiris and would neither help reduce the ‘dil ki doori’ nor create an environment of trust and friendship.

  • UP man held in sedition case after Facebook post celebrating Pakistan win in T20 match goes viral

    By PTI

    BUDAUN: A man has been arrested here in a sedition case for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s victory against India in the T-20 World Cup match, police said on Thursday.

    At least nine other people have been arrested and detained in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on similar charges in the last couple of days.

    Niaz, a resident of Faizganj Behta area, posted the picture of Pakistani flag and wrote objectionable comments in support of Pakistan on Facebook after the match, according to a complaint filed against him by Punit Shakya of Hindu Jagran Manch.

    In his complaint, Shakya said Niaz’s post was going viral, leading to outrage among netizens.

    Budaun Senior Superintendent of Police OP Singh said Niaz posted a picture of Pakistan’s flag on his Facebook account and captioned, “I love you Pakistan, I miss you Pakistan, Jeet Mubarak Pakistan”.

    Niaz was booked for sedition and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act on Tuesday and sent to jail on Wednesday, the SSP said.

    Five such cases have been registered in Agra, Bareilly, Budaun and Sitapur against seven people for allegedly using indecent language against the Indian cricket team.

    Three engineering students, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir and studying in a campus in Agra, were arrested on Wednesday for posting celebratory messages on their WhatsApp status.

    A private school teacher in Rajasthan’s Udaipur was arrested on Wednesday, a day after she was sacked by the school management for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status celebrating Pakistan’s victory.

    Pakistan on Sunday had drubbed India by 10 wickets in a Super 12 game for their first win in 13 attempts over their arch-rivals India in a World Cup match.

  • Agra police arrest 3 Kashmiri students for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s win over India in T20 World Cup

    By ANI

    AGRA: The Agra police on Wednesday arrested three Kashmiri students for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in the T20 World Cup match held on October 24 and publishing anti-India messages on social platforms.

    The three students have been identified as Inayat Altaf Shaikh, Shaukat Ahmed Gani and Arshid Yousuf, said Vikas Kumar, Agra SP. All the students are studying at RBS College Bichpuri.

    The students have been arrested under Section 153 (A) (Promoting disharmony), and 505 (Publishing and circulating a statement or report containing rumour or alarming news).

    Further investigation is underway.

  • ‘Volcano building up in Valley’: Kashmir parties on actions against youth for supporting Pakistan

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone on Tuesday said punitive actions against the Kashmiri youth will not help as they have not helped in the past as well.

    Referring to the registration of two FIRs against the medical students in the valley for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in the Sunday’s T20 international cricket match at Dubai, Lone said he “does not see anti-Indianism or pro-Pakistanism as an irreversible condition”.

    “I strongly disagree. If you think that they r not patriotic enough because they cheered for another team- u should have the courage and the belief to wean them back if u think they have gone patriotically astray. Punitive actions won’t help. Have not helped in the past either,” Lone said on Twitter.

    He was reacting to a tweet calling for the suspension of the students.

    The Peoples Conference chairman said, “We live in Kashmir and have to live with those who are ideologically opposed to us”.

    “But we’re confident that it is a game of narratives of discourses. And that we will win. We will convince all about the goodness of our ideology. We will prevail. But that that is if u allow us to,” he said.

    “We don’t see anti Indianism or pro-Pakistanism as an irreversible condition. It is at best a curable disease. Let us cure it. Allow us to cure it. Trust me. Punitive actions can worsen the disease,” he added in another tweet.

    Meanwhile, CPI (M) secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik termed the FIR as “unwarranted, unnecessary” and demanded immediate rollback of the charges against the students.

    “The past experiences reveal that such punitive actions have not helped in achieving any results nor it will have any desired outcome this time. Winning and losing is part of any game and in a democratic setup everybody has a choice to cheer up for his favourite team or a player,” Malik said.

    He said there are such examples where Indian fans gave standing ovation to Pakistan cricket team after its victory and same things happened with Pakistani crowds cheering up for the India team.

    In 1999, Chennai crowd gave a standing ovation to victorious Pakistan side.

    The crowd applauded the fact that Pakistan on that day was the better of the two sides.

    The Pakistani team reciprocated in kind to the crowd’s gesture, taking a victory lap around the ground.

    Nobody become anti-national if he supports one team or the other, he said.

    Malik urged upon J-K administration to immediately revoke the charges framed against the medical college students and help them to continue their degrees.

    A volcano has been building up in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday and expressed fears over what shape it would take when it erupted.

    Celebrations in the Valley over Pakistan’s win against India in the T-20 cricket world cup while Home Minister Amit Shah was visiting were meant to provoke the BJP, which had taken away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the erstwhile state’s former chief minister added.

    “They (those who celebrated the win) don’t have anything to do with them (Pakistanis) It was done to provoke the BJP. They were children and young boys and this should serve as an eye-opener for the BJP,” Abdullah said at a public meeting in Surankote in Poonch district.

    The BJP claims a new phase has started and militancy has finished but the situation is otherwise, Abdullah said.

    He said Shah was the one who announced the state’s special status under Article 370 being revoked and also witnessed the celebrations after the Pakistan’s cricket win on Sunday.

    “They (the BJP) took away Article 370 and Article 35A from us and claim not a single bullet was fired. How could bullets have been fired when you have put a soldier outside the door of every household? A volcano is building up even as they think they have silenced (the people).”

    “This volcano will erupt one day and god knows what will be its shape and size. They have to return Article 370 to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    In August 2019, the government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcated the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

    Addressing the rally, Abdullah also defended his advocacy for a dialogue between India and Pakistan and asked people to pray to the almighty for good sense to prevail in both the countries and for a way out in the larger interest of peace and development in the subcontinent.

    Taking a dig at the BJP-led government, he said its policies triggered farmer unrest in the country even as it was asked to send the three farm bills to the select committee in parliament.

    Both India and Pakistan, the former chief minister said, spend a major chunk of their revenues in preparing for war, impacting their poor.

    “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are sandwiched between the animosities of the two countries. The hostility is also the main reason to spread hatred and divide people on the name of Hindus and Muslims,” he said.

    In his view, political parties in both countries are winning elections in the name of Kashmir.

    “They (Pakistan) say Kashmir is our jugular vein and we have been suffering for 75 years. This side says this is our land and we will take back the land which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. Nobody has asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir where we stand,” he said.

    Abdullah asked the people to be united and frustrate the designs of those bent on dividing them on communal lines.

    Mahatma Gandhi, he said, had seen a ray of hope in Kashmir.

    “We will become the beacon of that light once again and spread across the country by upholding unity and brotherhood. Any government which oppresses its people and fails to mitigate their sufferings is bound to vanish.”

    He also drew examples from the Ramayana and the Quran to make his point.

    “I don’t know whether I will live till that day but I am sure the time will come when the government indulging in atrocities will witness divine intervention,” Abdullah said.

    “The people want it to happen immediately but god has his own plans and so we have to keep patience.”

    He hit out at the Congress for their “studied silence” on the issue of the abrogation of Article 370.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered two cases against medical students under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in Sunday’s match.

    The cases have been registered against students in hostels at Srinagar’s Government Medical College in Karan Nagar and SKIMS Soura, officials said.

    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday accused the Centre of resorting to “vindictive” action against Kashmiri youth and said such steps will “alienate them further” after cases were registered against some students here for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a T20 international cricket match.

    Two cases have been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against medical students living in hostels in Government Medical College and SKIMS Soura.

    Reacting to it, the PDP president said the Centre should instead have tried to ascertain why the educated youth choose to identify with Pakistan.

    “HMs (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) ‘Mann ki baat’ with Kashmiri youth started with slapping UAPA against medical students for celebrating Pakistan’s win. Instead of trying to ascertain why educated youth choose to identify with Pakistan, GOI resorting to vindictive actions. Such steps will alienate them further,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said on Twitter.

    Shah was on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir Youth at many places, including the students at these two hostels, celebrated Pakistan’s victory over arch-rivals India in the T20 played in Dubai on Sunday.

    Three engineering students from Kashmir were suspended by a college in Agra for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status praising Pakistan players after victory against India in a cricket match two days ago.

    Local leaders of the BJP youth wing have also lodged a complaint against them at the Jagdishpura police station.

    The students belonged to Raja Balwant Singh Engineering Technical Campus in Bichpuri.

    SP (City) Agra Vikas Kumar said police had received a complaint about it and will take action on the basis of the complaint.

    The college administration suspended the students on Monday.

    Dr Pankaj Gupta, director of administration and finance at the institute, said the students were suspended with immediate effect.

    “The students were studying under the Prime Minister Super Special Scheme. We have also apprised the PM office and AICTE of the students’ act. However, students have apologised,” Dr Gupta added.

    Meanwhile, local head of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Shailu Pandit, told reporters, “On Tuesday at 3 pm, I was informed by students of RBS Engineering College, Bichpuri, that there were three students who had raised slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ and ‘Pakistan zindabad’. They also shared such posts on social media.”

    “After that, I along with youth BJP leader Gaurav Rajawat, reached the college campus and enquired about the activity,” said Pandit.

    Shailu said the college authorities told them that they have suspended three students.

    “Thereafter, I informed police and lodged a complaint against the students involved in the anti-national activity,” he said.

  • India-Pakistan match: Six detained in J&K for allegedly raising derogatory slogans

    The video shows over two dozen people belonging to a particular community celebrating the victory of Pakistan cricket team against India, and raising objectionable slogans on Sunday night.