Mumbai, Sept 17 (PTI) – Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray raised a significant concern on Tuesday, questioning why the central government appears to be lenient towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is permitting the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India despite reports of violence against the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh.

Expressing his views on social media platform X, Thackeray criticized the apparent contradiction in the government’s stance. He highlighted that while trolls within India are fostering hatred under the guise of reacting to the violence in Bangladesh, the BCCI is proceeding to host the Bangladeshi cricket team without any hesitation.

He questioned, “Why haven’t those who have vociferously campaigned against this violence approached the @BCCI to seek clarifications? Is their silence indicative of an agenda that focuses solely on inciting hatred within India and serving electoral propaganda?”

The controversy comes as the first Test match between India and Bangladesh is scheduled to commence on September 19, further intensifying the scrutiny.

Thackeray called for transparency from the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking clarity on whether Hindu communities in Bangladesh have indeed faced violence over the past two months as reported by various media outlets and social media platforms. “If it is true that Hindus and other minorities have experienced violence, why is the BJP-led Government of India not taking a firmer stance against the BCCI for allowing this tour to proceed? Conversely, if such incidents of violence did not occur, is the @MEAIndia comfortable with the ongoing narrative about violence in Bangladesh perpetuated by social media and news stories?” Thackeray added.

As a former minister of Maharashtra, Thackeray’s questions underscore a pressing issue that intertwines international relations, communal harmony, and sports diplomacy. His statements urge the government to address these inconsistencies and provide clear answers to the public.