Rakesh Sinha, a BJP leader, addressed the controversy surrounding his statements on the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match. The issue arose during an event at Miranda House College in Delhi, where he was asked about the government’s seeming inconsistency regarding its stance towards Pakistan. His response generated considerable criticism and a strong reaction on social media.
Sinha argued that sports and culture should be viewed separately from political considerations. He stated that cricket is just a game, and not something that should be politicized, emphasizing that sports, art, and culture are not limited to a single country.
In an effort to clarify his position, Sinha acknowledged the misinterpretations of his remarks. He explained that these misunderstandings resulted from the removal of the last part of his opinion from the video and some flaws in his wording. While he believes sports and arts should be above politics, he clarified that an exception exists for Pakistan due to its involvement with terrorism. He personally disagrees with the match, claiming that a specific portion of the video had been circulated, reflecting a ‘post-truth’ scenario.