The Passive Voices

Every country has a fair share of extremists who try to enforce their writ at gunpoint but India has many varieties of such extremists. Genocide of Muslims at the time of India’s partition of 1947 is a testimony to that.  However, Indian extremism in all its manifestations will go unnoticed by the world as long as it targets Muslims and Pakistan. Shev Sena, an Indian version of militants has been involved in ethnic cleansing which has now surfaced through independent investigation. But the latest threat of this extremists outfit is very daring and disgusting at the same time. It will not allow Cricket World Cup final match scheduled to be held in Mumbai, if Pakistan fights its way through. If you want to hold the final match of World Cup in Mumbai, you have to make sure that Pakistan remains out of it. May be India will have to engineer Pakistani team’s ouster through banning of its star performers.

If Pakistani team loses its matches to reach the final stage, it may be under Shev Sena pressure.  The Hindu has reported that two days ahead of the ICC World Cup, a senior Shiv Sena leader has put a question mark on any final match which involves Pakistan. “You all know Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s views. If the Pakistan team reaches the final (scheduled in Mumbai), whether to allow them to play, the Sena chief will decide,” Manohar Joshi said here today.

“Mr. Thackeray will decide (whether to allow Pak team to play or not),” Mr. Joshi, whose party has been vehemently opposing cricket ties between the two neighbours, for Pakistan’s ’support to terrorism in India’, told reporters.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker’s statement comes a day after Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said a possible duel with India in the World Cup final would be ideal for the tournament and a boost to international cricket, drawing billions of viewers. Arch—rivals Pakistan and India are in separate groups of the 14—team World Cup, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and starts on February 19. The April 2 final is being held at the renovated Wankhede Stadium here. MNS leader Shishir Shinde, then with the Sena, dug up the Wankhede pitch in 1991 to oppose Indo—Pak matches.

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