Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut turned up the heat on Sunday, branding the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match a lucrative scam that channels gambling profits to Pakistan. Addressing reporters in Mumbai, he ripped into the BJP-led regime and ICC Chairman Jay Shah for prioritizing revenue over national security.
Raut’s core allegation? Immense betting volumes—peaking in Gujarat and Rajasthan—siphon funds to Pakistan, estimated at Rs 25,000 crore last time, later weaponized against India in attacks like Pathankot and Pulwama. ‘BJP leaders play middlemen, with full governmental nod,’ he accused, decrying it as shahid-apman, a slur on martyrs.
He spotlighted Jay Shah’s untouchable status: ‘His lineage shields him; otherwise, BJP would torch the streets.’ Raut lambasted the selective bravery—stopping ops like ‘Operation Sindoor’ under Trump pressure, yet embracing Pakistan for cricket bucks. ‘Hindutva reduced to match earnings?’ he probed.
Framing it as ‘Jay Shah vs Pakistan,’ not a national contest, Raut insisted citizens oppose this charade. The presser underscored ignored truths: Pakistan’s terror funding via sports-linked gambling, thriving despite public awareness gaps.
With the match looming, Raut’s polemic ignites discourse on blending sports, politics, and ethics, questioning if fan frenzy masks deeper betrayals.