Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan criticized India’s foreign policy after the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman, sparking nationwide outrage. Chavan emphasized the importance of maintaining friendly ties with Bangladesh and cautioned against using sports bodies like the BCCI for political purposes, fearing potential strain on bilateral relations.
Chavan questioned the motive behind India’s actions, suggesting that the decision to drop Rahman signaled a negative stance towards Bangladesh. He expressed concerns about unnecessarily creating hostilities with neighboring countries and stressed the need for amicable relations.
Highlighting recent events affecting Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, Chavan underscored the importance of addressing such issues diplomatically. He pointed out the need for India to reassess its approach towards neighboring nations and avoid actions that could lead to diplomatic tensions.
Chavan described Rahman’s exclusion from the KKR squad as a form of economic sanction and cautioned against politicizing sports. He warned that such moves could have lasting diplomatic repercussions and urged for a more strategic and diplomatic foreign policy approach.
