The BJP has not taken this lying down and went hammer and tongs against the moderate Hurriyat chairman, who is also the chief cleric of Kashmir, demanding that he be booked for sedition.
A major political storm has hit the restive Jammu and Kashmir after moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq cheered for the Pakistani cricket team after their victory in the ICC Champions Trophy's semifinal against England, with the ruling BJP going all guns blazing and demanding that sedition charges be slapped against the separatist leader.
"As we were finishing taraweeh (special night prayers during the holy month of Ramzan), we could hear the fire crackers bursting. Well played team Pakistan. Best of luck for the finals!" Mirwaiz tweeted soon after Pakistan defeated England in the semifinal match.
The BJP has not taken this lying down and went hammer and tongs against the moderate Hurriyat chairman, who is also the chief cleric of Kashmir, demanding that he be booked for sedition.
"All those who have sympathies with Pakistan are traitors and enemies. Supporting the Pakistani cricket team shows the mentality of the Hurriyat leader. The government should take this issue very seriously and sedition charges should be slapped on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq," said Ravinder Raina, a senior BJP leader and MLA from Nowshera constituency.
Soon after the Pakistani team defeated England, people in several areas hit the streets, bursting crackers and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans.
Raina said: "Pakistan is responsible for killing innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan and its ISI are the bosses of Hurriyat. Whenever they press the button, all these Hurriyat leaders dance to their tune. This should act as an eye-opener for the people of Kashmir. They should see who is working for their betterment and who is plunging them into crisis."
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, too, showed its displeasure with the way Mirwaiz went public cheering for the Pakistan team. "Cricket should not be politicised," said a PDP leader, referring to Mirwaiz's tweet.
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