Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 29: Congress leader Supriya Shrinate sparked a major political controversy on Monday by accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of disrespecting soldiers after he compared India’s cricket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup to Operation Sindoor — a recent military strike carried out by the Indian Armed Forces.
In a video message posted on social media, Shrinate called the comparison deeply offensive and described Indian cricketers as “money-grabbing.” She alleged that celebrating a cricket match while the nation is still grieving terror attacks like the one in Pahalgam is “unpatriotic.” According to her, “PM Modi has crossed all limits by equating soldiers who sacrifice their lives with cricketers who play for money.”
Shrinate criticised the large-scale celebrations after the match, calling those who rejoiced “traitors.” She said that instead of celebrating, citizens should have demanded a boycott of any sporting ties with Pakistan. “The one who watched, celebrated, and danced after the match—do they truly love this country? Didn’t they think of the soldiers’ families?”
The controversy erupted after PM Modi posted on X: “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.” The tweet, referring to India’s crushing win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, quickly went viral with over 107,000 retweets and 25 million impressions. However, the use of the term “Operation Sindoor” — also the name of a real cross-border strike against terror targets in Pakistan — drew sharp criticism from the opposition.
Shrinate accused Modi of political hypocrisy, recalling his past statement after the Uri terror attack where he declared, “Blood and water cannot flow together,” referring to the Indus Waters Treaty. “But now he allows blood and cricket to flow together,” she said, suggesting that cricketing ties with Pakistan help fund that country’s terror infrastructure.
She further claimed that the revenue generated from matches against Pakistan fills the Pakistan Cricket Board’s coffers, which in turn supports terrorist activities. “This money will build homes for terrorists who will attack us,” she warned.
While the Congress strongly objected to the Prime Minister’s remarks, many online users supported his message as a symbol of national pride. Netizens appeared divided, with some defending Modi’s post as metaphorical and celebratory, while others echoed Congress’s view that such comparisons trivialise the sacrifices of the armed forces.
The actual Operation Sindoor took place in May, launched by Indian forces in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. Indian troops carried out precision strikes on terror launchpads across the border, an action widely lauded across the political spectrum. However, drawing a parallel between that mission and a cricket match has now stirred intense political and public debate.