There should be deliberate research on why the Modi-led Indian government is so obsessed with the idea of ditching Pakistan. The unimpressive conduct of the Indian team in various ICC tournament ceremonies is a true reflection of the BJP’s toxic vision. The BJP government’s politicisation of cricket has turned a popular sport of the region into a tool of hateful, jingoistic propaganda. It is now clear that the Indian government intends to settle the score of its military failures in the field of sports.
This was evident during the recent ICC Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan, where the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts highlighted the prioritisation of political posturing over sportsmanship. The Modi government’s increasing politicisation of cricket has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that such venomous tendencies damage the sports culture and spirit.
Cricket, known as a game of gentlemen, has been blatantly exploited by an extremist like Narendra Modi to reinforce the hostilities with neighbours.
During the closing ceremony after the final match, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from President ICC Mohsin Naqvi, who happened to be the Chairman of PCB as well. Indian team blatantly violated the sporting norms with the obvious instructions of their government. This bitter display is a clear reflection of how deeply the politicisation and communal rhetoric of the BJP has penetrated into Indian society.
Criticism of hateful narratives of the BJP is pouring in from saner quarters, political rivals and flag bearers of fading secularism. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticised the incident, recalling the 1999 World Cup during the Kargil War when teams maintained respect despite soldiers sacrificing lives on the battlefield. He emphasised that the spirit of the game must remain separate from political and military conflicts.
Former Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra also expressed concerns about the rapid erosion of noble sporting values amid hateful insertions from the BJP regime. The Modi government is using sports to push the RSS-influenced, conflict-ridden agenda in contradiction to the past claims of inclusivity and non-violent conduct.
Mindless display of self-style nationalism in international events like the ICC Asia Cup tournament has further exposed the extremist roots of the BJP and damaged the reputation of India in the global sporting community. Cricket, known as a game of gentlemen, has been blatantly exploited by an extremist like Narendra Modi to reinforce the hostilities with neighbours.
This destructive trend is part of a larger pattern of cultural suppression linked to the BJP government’s jingoistic agenda. The Modi government’s policies have also been criticised for targeting minority communities, particularly Sikhs. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann condemned New Delhi’s discriminatory policies, including the cancellation of Sikh pilgrimages to Pakistan.
Famous Sikh film star and singer Diljit Singh Dosanjh has also spoken out against the state-sponsored repression in the arts and showbiz domains. Recently, the Indian government slapped a ban on his movie merely for having a Pakistani actress as a co-star. Weaponisation of sports, arts, religious tourism and cultural activities under the watch of the BJP is growing exponentially. This strategy clearly reflects the manifestation of Indian hegemonic designs.
Suppression of religious minorities is becoming more systematic with the visible support of state institutions in India. These disturbing developments are well-knit with the flop military misadventure of “Operation Sindoor” which practically brought the region to the brink of nuclear war.
Consequent offensive actions of the BJP regime amply proved that the terrorist attack in Pehalgam was a false flag operation to reinforce the anti-Pakistan narrative. It was a cleverly orchestrated replay of the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack on CRPF soldiers, which lately proved the BJP had conceived a false flag operation to fetch political advantages in the national elections.
India’s ill intentions got exposed with unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty. Subsequent missile and drone strikes on Pakistan, using a weak plea of cross-border terrorism, endangered regional peace with renewed tensions. Stunning counterstrikes and a befitting diplomatic response from Islamabad have put New Delhi in a tight spot.
Bad manners in the cricket field and unethical propaganda in B-grade Bollywood movies are the only weapons left in the hands of the Modi regime to fight the resilience of Pakistan. Modi deserves appreciation for transforming the national team into “RSS Eleven”.
The writer is a student.