NEW DELHI: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said those demanding Pakistan’s boycott in the upcoming cricket World Cup are “justified” to some extent given that things are not normal between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack.
Ever since 40 CRPF personnel were killed in what was the deadliest terror strike in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a demand that India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup, which begins May 30 in England.
The two neighbours are drawn to clash on June 16 at Old Trafford and might square off again in the knockout stage.
“I cannot make any comment (on cricket issues) except to say those who are demanding it have some justification. You can see many films and concerts have been cancelled. Things are not normal,” Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of Information and Technology, told ‘India Today’.
“If things are not normal, the jhappiyan-pappiyan (hugs and kisses) issues have always been there,” he said.
However, he refrained from outrightly calling for a boycott of the match and said it is upto the BCCI and the International Cricket Council to assess the situation and take a call accordingly.
(AGENCIES)
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