Cong seems to be in 'comatose state' after India's win against Pakistan in Asia Cup BJP

New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) The BJP on Monday took a swipe at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the opposition party seems to have gone into a "comatose state" after India's stunning victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.
     The Congress leaders seem to be more pained by Pakistan's defeat, and it is just like Operation Sindoor when they "couldn't bring themselves to congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strikes", the ruling party said.
     India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final match on Sunday, clinching its record ninth Asia Cup title.
     BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi hailed India's victory against Pakistan and said, "It is unfortunate, though not surprising, that so far no congratulatory message has come from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi for the Indian cricket team."
     He said this clearly shows that the Congress is ready to support all kinds of propaganda in favour of Pakistan, be it international diplomacy or the sports field.
     "Keep sports separate from politics," the BJP leader told the Congress. "Don't cast a shadow on the stunning performance of the Indian cricketers for whatever frustration, jealousy, hatred or inferiority complex you may have towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.
     Taking on the opposition party, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said on X, "Not even a single social media post from the Congress congratulating our national team for thrashing Pakistan thrice in the tournament and bringing the Asia Cup home.
     "It seems India's stunning win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final has left Rahul Gandhi and the entire Congress in a comatose state."
     Malviya further alleged, "Just like after Operation Sindoor, when they couldn't bring themselves to congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strikes, they now appear to be waiting for permission from Mohsin Naqvi and their other handlers in Pakistan before joining the nation in celebrating the Indian cricket team's success."
     "Once again, Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress find themselves on the same side of the divide," he said.
     Trivedi cited reported remarks of former Union minister P Chidambaram on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack to hit out at the Congress and its allies in the opposition, saying, "Merely naming an alliance as INDIA does not put India in one's heart."
     Chidambaram said that after the 26/11 attacks, when he became Home Minister, he favoured taking action against Pakistan, but it was not allowed.
     "This makes it clear what was the Congress leadership's inclination with regard to dealing with Pakistan," Trivedi said.
     Just nine months after the Mumbai terror attacks, a joint declaration with Pakistan was signed in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh in July 2009 and Balochistan was also mentioned in it, the BJP leader said.
     "It's both sad and astonishing. This means, in a way, they were ready to accept that falsehood as well. The Congress propagated this as if India had some involvement in Balochistan, a narrative that Pakistan also spread," he said.
     "If this alliance, named INDIA, carries pain and love in its heart, it is not for India but for Pakistan. And if it carries enmity, it is not for Pakistan but for India," the BJP leader charged.
     Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated the Indian cricket team on their win over Pakistan by drawing a symbolic parallel with "Operation Sindoor," the military campaign conducted earlier this year.
     In his post on X, Modi wrote, "#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same 'India wins!"
     Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Monday said it was not right for him to compare a cricket match to a battlefield.
     "Secondly, if you have made the comparison anyway, then you need to learn from the Indian team that when you are close to victory, good captains do not announce a ceasefire on the orders of any third umpire," Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said on X in an apparent reference to his party's claim that the BJP-led Centre halted Operation Sindoor under pressure from US President Donald Trump.
     Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sakpal, speaking in Nagpur, slammed the prime minister's remarks.
     "It is not the first time India has won the Asia Cup. We are proud of our team's win, but the prime minister has a policy of polarising everything, whether it is air, water, or even sport."
     He alleged that the prime minister "does not maintain the dignity of the nation", which "one can make out from his statements on such celebratory occasions."
     Echoing this criticism, senior Congress leader Naseem Khan accused the BJP of politicising every issue and said India should not have played against Pakistan.
     "The way the neighbouring country treated our citizens in recent days, they have wiped off our women's 'sindoor', at least we should not have played with them...
     "The Indian team has always performed with dedication and brought honour to the country... Not everything should be politicised; the BJP has this habit of politicising every issue," Khan said.
     The Maharashtra BJP media chief, Navnath Ban, rejected the charges. For the prime minister, the nation comes first, while for the Congress, "Pakistan comes first", he said.
     Ban said that the Congress did not appear happy with India's victory and seemed more "pained by Pakistan's defeat."
     Defending the prime minister's analogy, he said, "Operation Sindoor is a symbol of India's confidence and a fitting response to terrorists."
     The BJP leader argued that PM Modi had effectively linked the "valour of soldiers and the achievements of sportspersons," terming it a symbol of a 'New India.'
     "India always plays with a sportsman spirit, but wins with strength and honesty," Ban said. He also alleged that Congress leaders feel "uneasy" at India's victories, claiming that their "DNA leans towards Pakistan".

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)