Shahid Afridi praises Rahul Gandhi amid India-Pakistan handshake row; BJP says Congress attracts those who ‘hate India’

Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while criticising the BJP-led central government for using religion in politics. Speaking on Pakistan’s Samma TV during a panel discussion on the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, Afridi said,

“This government (In India) always plays the religion and Muslim-Hindu card to stay in power. This is a very bad mindset. Rahul Gandhi has a very positive mindset. He believes in dialogue. Is one Israel not enough that you are trying to become another?"

BJP responds to Afridi’s comments

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala strongly reacted to Afridi’s remarks and accused the Congress of aligning with anti-India voices. He wrote on X, “After Hafiz Saeed, now Shahid Afridi ( Terror apologist & India hater ) praises Rahul Gandhi… Not surprised! Everyone who hates India finds an ally in Rahul Gandhi & Congress From Soros to Shahid …INC = Islamabad National Congress."


He also said the “Congress-Pakistan friendship” was old and claimed the party had often echoed Pakistan’s stance on key issues, from the abrogation of Article 370 to the Mumbai 26/11 attacks and Pulwama.

India Pakistan handshake row in Asia Cup

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their group stage clash at the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday. The fixture triggered sharp criticism in India, as it came just four months after Pakistani terrorists killed 26 people, mostly Hindus, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Several opposition parties attacked the BJP-led government for allowing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to go ahead with the match despite public anger over the recent terror attack.

Government defends India’s participation

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended India’s participation in the tournament, saying it was not a bilateral game but part of an international event. “If India does not play in the Asia Cup, then India will be out. The Olympics and the Asia Cup are not for Pakistan; it is for the whole world… If we do not go to the Olympics because of our enmity with a country, who will suffer the loss? So, this has to be understood. The sentiment is right, but there should be rational thinking behind the sentiment," Rijiju said.