AAP slams BJP over Asia Cup, demands match revenues for Pahalgam victims
New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised questions on Monday over the political messaging surrounding India's Asia Cup final against Pakistan and suggested that the revenue generated from the cricket match could be used to support the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims.
No official response was available from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj shared video footage showing the Indian cricket team captain shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart after stepping down from the stage after the Asia Cup final, in contrast to claims circulating online that no such interaction took place.
In a statement issued by the AAP, Bharadwaj claimed that the broadcasting and advertisement revenue from the India-Pakistan Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday was estimated at around Rs 690 crore.
He said if this amount is allocated to the families of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam attack, each family could potentially receive anywhere between Rs 19 and Rs 25 crore.
During an interaction with the media, Bharadwaj said the videos allow the public to see the sequence of events before and after the post-match press-conference, adding that such transparency helps in understanding what actually happened.
Opposition parties have targeted the BJP-led Centre over India's participation in the Asia Cup and playing cricket with Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
While the AAP has focussed on potential support for the victims' families, the Congress has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing a cricket match to a military operation.
India secured its ninth Asia Cup title, defeating Pakistan by five wickets, in a thrilling final in Dubai on Sunday.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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