Amid cricket fervor, Congress figure Bhai Jagtap endorses the lifting of the India-Pakistan match boycott, hailing it as a positive stride that shields games from geopolitical shadows.
Granting IANS an interview in Mumbai, Jagtap was unequivocal. ‘I’ve always maintained—then in power and now—that sports, art, and music are politics-free zones.’ He puzzled over Pakistan’s earlier cricket cold shoulder but lauded Jay Shah’s role as ICC head. ‘No World Cup has seen a team bail out halfway. Welcoming back this marquee matchup is only right,’ he affirmed.
Yogi Adityanath’s statements drew a sidestep. ‘Unfamiliar with the details, I view it as sensitive and decline comment,’ Jagtap said succinctly.
Reacting to Mohan Bhagwat’s Bharat Ratna plea for Veer Savarkar, he reflected: ‘Bharat Ratna signifies 1.4 billion Indians’ honor. Past awardees devoted lifetimes to service. Savarkar’s charges are on record. The RSS chief’s expertise trumps mine here.’
Maharashtra’s Nitesh Rane slamming Salman Khan’s RSS appearance met firm rebuttal. ‘Bollywood, sports—these are national treasures, not political fodder. Critics of Salman or Shah Rukh have their rebuttals ready,’ Jagtap concluded, promoting a broader national canvas.