Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh sparked debate by declaring the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Sri Lanka fundamentally misguided. ‘With current hostilities, neither side should have stepped onto the field,’ he remarked in an interview.
Yet, he reasoned that proceeding without handshakes defeats the purpose. ‘Politics has no place in sports. Such orders undermine the game’s soul, and I oppose them outright,’ Singh maintained, advocating for unadulterated competition.
On Bangladesh’s political shift, Singh viewed elections positively but pressed for PM Modi’s engagement on Hindu community assaults. ‘It’s time to secure commitments against further violence,’ he proposed.
Critiquing the US trade pact, Singh spotlighted farmer vulnerabilities: ‘No taxes on American cotton and soy open doors wide, but our farmers exporting face 18% burdens amid existing woes.’ He accused the deal of favoring foreign interests over domestic needs.
In response, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Agriculture Minister, dismantled Congress allegations. ‘Rahul Gandhi’s GM crop and DDG claims are baseless fabrications,’ he charged. Reminding of Congress’s MSP shortcomings—failing to honor cost-plus-50% despite promises—Chouhan questioned their credibility.
As rhetoric escalates, these statements reflect broader anxieties over sports diplomacy, minority protections, and equitable trade in India’s evolving landscape.