'Has no basis': BJP MP responds to Congress leader Rashid Alvi's statement over India-Pakistan cricket match

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Sunday responded to Congress leader Rashid Alvi's statement on the Champions Trophy India vs Pakistan match today. He said that politics and sports policy is different and the Indian cricket team is definitely going to win the match."Rashid Alvi probably forgets that diplomacy is different, politics is different and sports policy is different. In sports, the Indian team is the best. The match is being played in Dubai. What Rashid Alvi is saying has no basis. The Indian team is definitely going to win the match against Pakistan," said Khandelwal.Earlier today, Alvi criticised the decision and questioned why the BJP government had authorised a match with Pakistan."Why did the Indian government give permission for the match? You are playing with those who spread terrorism...Is this right? Every BJP leader makes a lot of statements against Pakistan. They say if Congress wins, a celebration will be held there (Pakistan). Now, the Indian team is playing cricket with the Pakistan team, What kind of policy is this? If Pakistan is our enemy, then what's the point of playing with them," he said."Indian government has repeatedly said that we will not talk until the terrorism is over. Has it ended? Haven't our soldiers being killed in Kashmir? What will the mother and sisters of that martyred soldier think? I condemn this and this policy of government is beyond understanding," he added.The Congress leader said that by authorising the cricket match, the government was showing disrespect to the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism."The question is why our government has given permission for this match. You are playing with those people who spread terrorism. Will the family member of our martyred soldier tolerate this? They are disrespecting them," Alvi said.