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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, Jan 7: A peeved BJP today condemned the Shiv Sena for damaging the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch. 8220;We condemn all such incidents. It is an incident of unwarranted bravado, party vice-president JP Mathur said and expressed hope that the matches would be held as scheduled. Our central and state governments are capable of ensuring incident free matches, he said.
The Shiv Sena however remained unrepentant and reiterated that Pakistan would not be allowed to play in India. It also claimed that yesterday8217;s incident was not any violation of law but a form of protest against Pakistan8217;s policies and ISI activities against India.
8220;How is it a violation of law. Was section 144 clamped there. Did they harm or injure anybody. It was only a form of protest and to show how strongly we feel against anti-national activities,8221; Madhukar Sarpotdar MP, and leader of Shiv Sena in Lok Sabha, told reporters here.
He however, declined to comment when asked what would be the form of their protest if the pitch was repairedand the match still played. 8220;It is our strategy and not in our interest to disclose our strategy. How can I tell you what form the protest will take.8221;
He however, said the Shiv Sena would 8220;welcome8221; Pakistanis to play in India once congenial relations were developed between the two countries and ISI activities in India were stopped.
