Row over Col Sofiya Qureshi, Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh appearing on KBC, UBT leader says "join the dots"

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised concerns over the optics of patriotism being used for entertainment, as Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), a show aired by a private channel.

Broadcasting rights and cricket revenue questioned

Chaturvedi noted in a post on X that the parent company of the channel, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), also holds the rights to broadcast the Asia Cup until 2031. "Our heroic women in uniform who went on to become the face of Operation Sindoor have been invited by a private entertainment channel on their show. This private entertainment channel’s parent company Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has also bagged the broadcasting rights of the Asia Cup till 2031. Yes, the very channel that seeks to earn revenue through India vs Pakistan cricket matches. Now join the dots," she wrote, highlighting a perceived contradiction between promoting patriotism and profiting from cricket matches against Pakistan.

Previous parliamentary remarks on India–Pakistan matches

In Parliament on July 31, Chaturvedi had called on the home minister to instruct International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah to stop India–Pakistan cricket matches, terming such a move a "victory for Operation Sindoor." She said, "I am telling the Home Minister, that sir, you will not have to call anywhere, if you tell the ICC chairman (Jay Shah) to stop the India Pakistan match, then the match would not happen, this would be a victory for our Operation Sindoor."



Earlier, on July 29, she criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for proceeding with the Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan, pointing to the irony of playing on Kargil Day—a day to honour the armed forces—while the Pakistan interior minister, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board, announced the tournament’s venue. "If this match happens then it is not just the failure of the government, it is also the failure of BCCI that on one hand today is Kargil Day… and on the same day the Interior Minister of Pakistan who is president of PCB announces that Asia Cup is going to be held in UAE," she said.


The Asia Cup is scheduled to start on September 9, with the India–Pakistan group-stage match set for September 14.