Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut has fired a blistering attack on the Centre over its decision to clear India’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan, calling it a move that “insults the sacrifices of martyrs” and exposes the government’s “double standards” on nationalism.

In a sharply worded letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raut said the decision was “painful and insensitive,” particularly in the aftermath of the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where Pakistani militants killed several security personnel, leaving 26 women widowed.

“Mr. Prime Minister, you once thundered that blood and water cannot flow together. Today I ask—will blood and cricket now flow together?” Raut wrote, accusing the government of betraying the very emotions it claims to represent.

The Sena leader raised a series of pointed questions:

How can the Centre justify sporting ties with Pakistan when it continues to trumpet ‘Operation Sindoor’ against terrorism?

Has the grief of the families shattered by the Pahalgam attack been taken into account?

Is the clearance a result of international pressure, including from the United States?Raut further alleged that the 

government’s decision was not just about cricket but also about money and politics. He suggested that large-scale betting and online gambling linked to India–Pakistan matches were a factor, hinting that some BJP leaders themselves benefitted from it. Pointing directly at BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Raut claimed there may be financial motives behind the clearance.

The Sena MP also invoked the late Bal Thackeray’s legacy, saying that if the match were scheduled in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena would have ensured it was disrupted. “The BJP has abandoned Hindutva and national sentiment, reducing patriotism to a hollow slogan,” Raut charged.

The controversy erupted after the Union Sports Ministry gave a green signal for India to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup despite weeks of mounting opposition. Several political outfits and public groups had demanded a boycott of the Pakistan match, arguing that cross-border terrorism and cricket cannot go hand in hand.