BOMBAY, 5 October 2006 — Hindu right-wing group Shiv Sena has warned the federal and state governments it would not allow Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy final at Brabourne stadium in Bombay on Nov. 5.
Pakistan, one of the 10 participating countries, will fly to Bombay only if they reached the final. Two of their three league matches are in the northern city of Mohali and the third in Jaipur. The semi-finals will also be held in Mohali and Jaipur.
The Shiv Sena party, which holds sway in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, said the step was to protest against July’s bombings of trains in Bombay that killed nearly 200 people.
“How can they allow Pakistan to play matches in our country when the Bombay police have evidence of its (Pakistan’s) involvement in the July 11 terror attack?” Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray said.
Uddhav said that his father, Bal Thackeray, was firmly against any dialogue with Pakistan.
Replying to a question about protests against the death sentence handed down to Mohammed Afzal by the Supreme Court for attack on the Indian Parliament, Uddhav said all political parties should take a joint stand on the issue and resist pleas for Afzal’s clemency. Afzal is a terrorist and a terrorist has no religion,” he said.
Maharashtra authorities said it will not allow any disruptions if Pakistan reach the final. “Right now it is a hypothetical question but we are duty-bound to maintain law and order in the state,” Maharshtra Home Secretary A.P. Sinha told AFP.
“We have the warning but I will not issue comments on the remarks of a political leader,” said Sinha, who is in charge of the state’s internal security. Indian Home Ministry officials in New Delhi said Shiv Sena’s threat has been passed to Jaipur and Mohali.
