Shiv Sena storms BCCI HQ to protest Indo-Pak cricket meeting
Activists chant anti-Pakistan slogans; protest leads to cancellation of cricket meeting
PHOTOS: AFP
A meeting between Pakistan and India's cricket boards officials was cancelled on Monday after Shiv Sena workers stormed the Mumbai office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan and the head of the PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi had arrived in India on Sunday to hold talks with BCCI in a bid to finalise the India-Pakistan cricket series in December.
Shahryar meets Shashank: PCB, BCCI ready to resolve tensions
However, according to NDTV, the Hindu right-wing party activists crashed through the gates of the office in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding Shahryar and Sethi's immediate return.
Activists could be seen entering Manohar's office and crowding around his desk, shouting slogans and appearing determined to stop him from meeting the Pakistan cricket board chief. At least 10 protesters were arrested.
The Shiv Sena, which rules Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP, says it will not allow any engagement with Pakistan.
BJP taunts Shiv Sena for hosting Javed Miandad
However, PCB Chairman Shahryar was still optimistic despite the incident. Talking to the Indian media, Shahryar said, "I was invited by Shashank here and the mindset is that we have signed an MoU and we should honour it."
Further, reacting to the incident, former PCB chairman Khalid Mehmood regretted the incident saying the Shiv Sena activists also resorted to acts of violence in the past.
The Congress condemned the attack on BCCI. "BCCI is a responsible body and will not do anything against national interest. Cricketing decisions should be left to BCCI. Cricket is a gentleman's man and the spirit of the game expects same generosity and tolerance from those who love the game," tweeted Congress lawmaker Rajeev Shukla, who served as BCCI vice president in the past.
Read: After Ghulam Ali, Shiv Sena forces cancellation of Mekaal Hasan Band’s concert
Shaharyar and Sethi were scheduled to meet Manohar, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur and other government officials to discuss Pakistan, India bilateral series scheduled for December in UAE.
Last week, Shiv Sena's protests forced the cancellation of legendary Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's concert. Further, the Hindu right-wing party activists threw black paint on columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni for organising the launch of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch.
Shiv Sena activists attack Kasuri's book launch organiser
The Indian and Pakistani boards had signed a pact for six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023, beginning with Pakistan's home series in December.
Shiv Sena threatens Pakistani umpire
Moreover, Shiv Sena has threatened Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar to avoid officiating in the fifth ODI between India and South Africa.
Protest outside PCB headquarter
A protest erupted outside the PCB headquarter on Monday in reaction to Shiv Sena's actions in India.
People vented out their anger against the Indian board with anti-BCCI chants and slogans.
No talks to be held in New Delhi: Thakur
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur denied the reports that the talks between PCB and the Indian board have been shifted to New Delhi.
"Officially there is no meeting scheduled in New Delhi. If the talks happen, they will take place in Mumbai at the BCCI headquarters. The BCCI and PCB have some outstanding issues and the PCB chief wanted to meet the BCCI president to discuss those things but those have been cancelled now," Thakur told reporters, quoted by NDTV.
"I condemn this attack because you cannot barge into the BCCI office and force cancellation of the talks. In a democracy, you can protest but you can do it on the streets but you can't barge into anyone's office, home or headquarters," added Thakur, who is a Lok Sabha member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Effective measures required: FO
Pakistan's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, said that they have taken serious note of the increasing number of violent protests aimed at disrupting scheduled events in India involving Pakistan nationals.
"The cancellation of the meeting of Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with his counterpart in Mumbai [Manohar], due to the protests by an extremist organization, is the latest in a series of such incidents that have taken place in the recent past.
"Effective measures are required to prevent continuous recurrence of such incidents in India."
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan and the head of the PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi had arrived in India on Sunday to hold talks with BCCI in a bid to finalise the India-Pakistan cricket series in December.
Shahryar meets Shashank: PCB, BCCI ready to resolve tensions
However, according to NDTV, the Hindu right-wing party activists crashed through the gates of the office in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding Shahryar and Sethi's immediate return.
Activists could be seen entering Manohar's office and crowding around his desk, shouting slogans and appearing determined to stop him from meeting the Pakistan cricket board chief. At least 10 protesters were arrested.
The Shiv Sena, which rules Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP, says it will not allow any engagement with Pakistan.
BJP taunts Shiv Sena for hosting Javed Miandad
However, PCB Chairman Shahryar was still optimistic despite the incident. Talking to the Indian media, Shahryar said, "I was invited by Shashank here and the mindset is that we have signed an MoU and we should honour it."
Further, reacting to the incident, former PCB chairman Khalid Mehmood regretted the incident saying the Shiv Sena activists also resorted to acts of violence in the past.
The Congress condemned the attack on BCCI. "BCCI is a responsible body and will not do anything against national interest. Cricketing decisions should be left to BCCI. Cricket is a gentleman's man and the spirit of the game expects same generosity and tolerance from those who love the game," tweeted Congress lawmaker Rajeev Shukla, who served as BCCI vice president in the past.
Read: After Ghulam Ali, Shiv Sena forces cancellation of Mekaal Hasan Band’s concert
Shaharyar and Sethi were scheduled to meet Manohar, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur and other government officials to discuss Pakistan, India bilateral series scheduled for December in UAE.
Last week, Shiv Sena's protests forced the cancellation of legendary Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's concert. Further, the Hindu right-wing party activists threw black paint on columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni for organising the launch of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch.
Shiv Sena activists attack Kasuri's book launch organiser
The Indian and Pakistani boards had signed a pact for six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023, beginning with Pakistan's home series in December.
Shiv Sena threatens Pakistani umpire
Moreover, Shiv Sena has threatened Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar to avoid officiating in the fifth ODI between India and South Africa.
Protest outside PCB headquarter
A protest erupted outside the PCB headquarter on Monday in reaction to Shiv Sena's actions in India.
People vented out their anger against the Indian board with anti-BCCI chants and slogans.
No talks to be held in New Delhi: Thakur
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur denied the reports that the talks between PCB and the Indian board have been shifted to New Delhi.
"Officially there is no meeting scheduled in New Delhi. If the talks happen, they will take place in Mumbai at the BCCI headquarters. The BCCI and PCB have some outstanding issues and the PCB chief wanted to meet the BCCI president to discuss those things but those have been cancelled now," Thakur told reporters, quoted by NDTV.
"I condemn this attack because you cannot barge into the BCCI office and force cancellation of the talks. In a democracy, you can protest but you can do it on the streets but you can't barge into anyone's office, home or headquarters," added Thakur, who is a Lok Sabha member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Effective measures required: FO
Pakistan's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, said that they have taken serious note of the increasing number of violent protests aimed at disrupting scheduled events in India involving Pakistan nationals.
"The cancellation of the meeting of Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with his counterpart in Mumbai [Manohar], due to the protests by an extremist organization, is the latest in a series of such incidents that have taken place in the recent past.
"Effective measures are required to prevent continuous recurrence of such incidents in India."