Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has stirred controversy in India after lauding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for what he described as a “positive mindset” during a televised discussion in Pakistan.
Speaking on Samma TV in the aftermath of the recent India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash, Afridi contrasted Gandhi’s approach with that of the ruling BJP. “This government (in India) always plays the religion and Hindu-Muslim card to stay in power. This is a very bad mindset. Rahul Gandhi has a very positive mindset. He believes in dialogue. Is one Israel not enough that you are trying to become another?” Afridi remarked, while drawing a comparison between India’s policies towards Pakistan and Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The comments prompted sharp criticism from the BJP. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said Afridi’s statement exposed the “long-standing alignment” between Congress and Pakistan’s narrative. “After Hafiz Saeed, now Shahid Afridi praises Rahul Gandhi… Not surprised! Everyone who hates India finds an ally in Rahul Gandhi & Congress,” Poonawala posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that Congress had echoed Pakistan’s stance on issues ranging from Article 370 to the Mumbai terror attacks.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also weighed in, calling Afridi a habitual critic of India. “Why is it that every India-hater finds a friend in Rahul Gandhi? When enemies of Bharat start cheering for you, the people of India know exactly where your loyalties lie,” Malviya wrote.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was equally scathing, posting on X that “Rahul Gandhi has been the darling of Pakistan!” He went further in Hindi, suggesting that “Shahid Afridi and the people of Pakistan can make Rahul Gandhi their leader.”
The political row comes just days after India’s emphatic seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai, in the group stage of the Asia Cup. The fixture itself had drawn criticism in India, as it followed a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly Hindus, were killed.
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