NCP joins protests against Pakistani hockey players

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joined the anti-Pakistan bandwagon by opposing Pakistani players in the forthcoming Hockey India League (HIL) in the wake of the killing and mutilation of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said while everybody wanted peace on both sides of the border, “the beheading of an Indian soldier is an insult to 125 crore Indians.”

Pawar said for maintaining peace, it is “necessary to have personal relationships, especially in the field of sports and arts.”

He said that in order to foster and nurture peace, “Pakistani actors and singers have come and worked her; Pakistani cricketers have also played here.”

“The recent incident smacks of bestial behaviour and the Pakistani hockey players, who came after the incident, just cannot be tolerated,” Pawar said.

The NCP followed the Shiv Sena, which protested outside the Mumbai Hockey Association office here last Sunday, for including Pakistani players in HIL matches.

Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut went a step further and said they would not even permit the Pakistan women cricket team to play in the ensuing world cup matches here.

IANS 2013-01-15 20:46:08