A BJP member in Lok Sabha today asked the government not to hold an Indo-Pak cricket series questioning the need for having sporting ties with a country which shelters terrorists responsible for carrying out attacks in India.
Former Union Home Secretary and BJP MP R K Singh said at a time when terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed is roaming freely in Pakistan and another terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has been granted fresh bail, "what is point of playing cricket with them...I do not understand."
The government should not hold such a cricket series or "reconsider" any decision on the matter as Home Minister Rajnath Singh has informed the House that Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim has been given shelter in Pakistan, he said.
While most BJP members were silent, he got support from the Opposition benches when he raised the issue during Zero Hour.
Reports have it that in December, India could take on Pakistan in their first 'away' bilateral cricket series in almost a decade.
India and Pakistan cricket board chiefs met in Kolkata yesterday and said that the series would likely comprise three Tests, five one-day internationals and two T-20 games.
The issue of ban on fishing on high seas from the present 47 days to 61 raised by K C Venugopal also saw heated exchanges between the opposition and the treasury benches leading to adjournment of the House for 10 minutes during Zero Hour.
Venugopal said the decision to extend the period of ban was based on the recommendation of a committee. He said the former chairperson of the panel and the present incumbent have now opposed the findings, therefore, the government should withdraw the ban.
Fellow members from Kerala beloning to Left parties supported Venugopal and wanted a further discussion. As they pressed for a discussion, Santok Singh Chaudhury (Cong) could not raise his issue despite repeated attempts.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Bidhuri said something much to the chagrin of members from Kerala, which led to heated exchange of words between the opposition and treasury benches.
As some BJP members tried to pacify Bidhuri, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said when Congress member Venugopal did not allow fellow party MP Chaudhury to raise his issue, the BJP would find it difficult to contain members like Bidhuri.
Amid din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
