T20 World Cup fervor met political heat as Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh decried the no-handshake directive for the India vs Pakistan showdown in Sri Lanka. ‘This match was ill-advised given our bilateral tensions,’ he told reporters. ‘But if it’s on, don’t taint it with politics.’
Singh passionately defended cricket’s ethos: ‘Handshakes are integral to sports. Banning them is against fair play principles—I won’t endorse it.’ His words challenge the narrative of enforced patriotism in athletic arenas.
Beyond the pitch, Singh lauded Bangladesh’s new administration post-elections, imploring PM Modi to prioritize Hindu safety concerns on any trip there. ‘Demand an end to targeted attacks,’ he stressed.
The US-India deal drew Singh’s scrutiny for sidelining local farmers. ‘Cotton and soybean producers get no relief while US markets flood ours tax-free,’ he explained. ‘Our exports? Hit with 18% tariffs. It’s a raw deal for distressed Indian agriculture.’
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan rebutted fiercely, branding Congress’s narrative as a ‘factory of lies’ led by Rahul Gandhi. ‘Zero approvals for GMOs or DDGs—facts speak for themselves,’ he asserted. Chouhan flipped the script, recalling Congress’s rejection of Swaminathan’s MSP formula in Parliament, citing market distortions.
This back-and-forth highlights polarized views on global trade’s impact on India’s farming backbone, fueling calls for balanced policies.