On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked Congress sharply for not congratulating Team India following its Asia Cup win. Party national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being the "best friend" of Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir and charged the party with going against India's national interests.
"On one hand: Rahul Gandhi has not yet congratulated the Indian cricket team on thrashing Pakistan on sports battlefield! On the other hand: When Pakistan is completely cornered, you have Congress leaders asking for sportsman spirit against Pakistan! Why does Congress always support Pakistan over India!" the BJP leader said in a post on X.
He went on further, terming Congress as "B-team of Pakistan."
"Congress supported Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, Congress is supporting Pakistan in Operation Tilak. Rahul Gandhi is the best friend of Asim Munir!" he added.
Senior BJP leader and party IT department head Amit Malviya asserted that Team India's victory had left Rahul Gandhi and his party in a "comatose state."
"Just like after Operation Sindoor, when they couldn't bring themselves to congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strikes, they now appear to be waiting for permission from Mohsin Naqvi and their other handlers in Pakistan before joining the nation in celebrating the Indian cricket team's success. Put that aside - not even a single social media post from Congress congratulating our national team for thrashing Pakistan thrice in the tournament and bringing the Asia Cup home," he said.
Malviya further said that Rahul Gandhi, Congress, and Pakistan have "found themselves on the same side of the divide."
Team India won a nail-biting five-wicket victory over Pakistan to capture the Asia Cup 2025, their ninth triumph in the continental competition. Pakistan collapsed for 146 in 19.1 overs after losing its last nine wickets for 33 runs.
The last, played at the Dubai International Stadium, saw provocative actions by Pakistani cricketers and Team India's refusal to shake hands with the men in green in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the death of 26 individuals and led to India's Operation Sindoor.
In the Super Fours game between India and Pakistan, Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf gave Indian fans a 'plane down' gesture, alluding to Pakistan's baseless allegations of shooting down Indian aircraft during Operation Sindoor. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah reciprocated the gesture after getting rid of Rauf, a clip that soon went viral on the internet.
With India's victory, the trophy ceremony was disrupted as Team India declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from the Asian Cricket Council chief and Pakistani minister Mohsin Naqvi. The trophy and medals were taken away by Naqvi minutes later.
The Opposition, on the other hand, condemned Team India and blamed the central government for "staging a drama." Congress leader Udit Raj had the following to say: "A drama has been staged. When you have already played, what is the problem in taking the trophy? They are fooling us, this is all drama. This is a joke."
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj posted a video on X of the Indian players shaking hands with Naqvi "15 days ago". "They got a photo clicked too. But when there was opposition to the match in India, they gave the players a new script so that they could run propaganda in the country," he said.
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