"New Fanboy": BJP's Taunt After Shahid Afridi Praises Rahul Gandhi
Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has praised Rahul Gandhi, giving fresh ammunition to the ruling BJP to target the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
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- From: India News Bull
Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi's complimentary remarks about Rahul Gandhi have provided fresh ammunition for the BJP to target the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. During a panel discussion on Pakistani television covering the controversial India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, Afridi praised Gandhi for his "very positive mindset."
Afridi criticized the ruling BJP for having a "very nasty mindset" while commending Gandhi: "Rahul Gandhi has a very positive mindset. He wants to take everyone together through dialogue. Is one Israel not enough that you are trying to become another?"
The video quickly went viral, prompting BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari to post on X: "Rahul Gandhi finds a new fanboy - disgraced Pak cricketer Shahid Afridi! When enemies of India shower praises, you know Congress is a party which is against Bharat, with Pakistan."
Congress responded sharply to the criticism, with spokesperson Supriya Shrinate sharing a photo of Afridi with BJP MP Anurag Thakur, writing in Hindi: "You do the sweet-talking, you maintain the friendships. And then you question us?"
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also joined the attack, stating: "Not surprised! Everyone who hates India finds an ally in Rahul Gandhi and Congress. From Soros to Shahid...INC = Islamabad National Congress. Congress-Pak Yaarana is very old." He added, "Art 370 to Surgical strike to clean chit on 26/11 and Pulwama and Pahalgam - Congress echoes Pakistan's narrative always."
The controversy follows the recent India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match where Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav explained this decision as showing solidarity with families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
"I feel a few things, a few things in life are ahead of a sportsman's spirit also. We stand with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicate this victory to our Armed Forces," Yadav told a Pakistani journalist who questioned whether the refusal was "politically motivated."
This match marked the first encounter between the cricket teams since the April Pahalgam attack, with political tensions visibly affecting sporting relations as no handshakes occurred before or after the game.
The Pakistan Cricket Board claimed match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe had requested both captains not to shake hands during the pre-game coin toss. The PCB filed a formal protest with the International Cricket Council, describing Pycroft's decision as "against sportsmanship" and demanding his removal from the tournament.
Despite Pakistan's reported threat to withdraw from the tournament over the 'handshake gate,' the ICC has rejected their demand against the Zimbabwean referee.