No cricket matches should be played with Pakistan: Rajnath Singh to private channel

In an exclusive to Republic TV, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that there should not be any cricket matches between India and Pakistan. However, he also added that the final call will be taken by the board members. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on the other hand, is set to take a call on how to approach the India-Pakistan World Cup match that is to be played in Manchester on June 16. While fans and some former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly have called for India to cut all sporting ties with Pakistan, others like former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar. 

Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address after Pulwama attack, Rajnath Singh said that there is no point of talking about the person who either condemned the dastardly attack nor offered condolences to the soldiers who were killed in the incident. He further added that Pakistan has given birth to terrorism and the time for talks with the latter is over. 

On the issue of banning Pakistani artists in India, Rajnath Singh said that he supports the move and doesn’t expect anything from Pakistan. On one question, Rajnath Singh said, “People know, the government under PM Modi, is one that has firm convictions and does what it says. The citizens have faith in the PM.”

India has also decided to stop the flow of its share of water to Pakistan from rivers under the Indus Water Treaty, a move seen as an immediate fallout of deadly terrorist attack that killed 40 paramilitary personnel in south Kashmir.

Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted to convey the decision of the government to stop India's share of water going to Pakistan.

But the actual implementation of the decision may take up to six years as dams as high as 100 metres will have to be built to stop such flow, officials said insisting it decision was in no way a violation of the Treaty and was only aimed at getting the rightful due to people of the country.

  Under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960, the waters of the western rivers -- the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab -- was given to Pakistan and those of the eastern rivers -- the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej -- to India.

  India's share of water from Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers came to 33 million acres feet (MAF). While about 95 per cent of the water was being used in the country after the construction of three main dams across the rivers, close to 5 per cent water or 1.6 MAF would flow to Pakistan.

To gain access to this water, India is now building more dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. Another official said the decision was taken two months back. Water to Pakistan from the three rivers has been flowing for 60 years while the country needs the same to meet needs of its citizens, they said insisting stopping of its share of water from going to Pakistan is in no way a violation of the Treaty.

Earlier, Former India captain Sourav Ganguly called for severing all sporting ties with Pakistan in the wake of Pulwama terror attack which left 40 CRPF personnel martyred.

Ganguly echoed sentiments of his one-time teammate Harbhajan Singh, saying that not playing Pakistan in one group league tie in the upcoming World Cup will not affect India's chances.

However, Ganguly didn't elaborate whether the protest should be symbolic for one game or India should forfeit if they happen to meet Pakistan in semi-final or final. "This is a 10-team World Cup and each team plays matches against every other team and I feel if India doesn't play a match in the World Cup, it won't be an issue," Ganguly told India TV.

"I feel it will be really difficult for ICC to go on with a World Cup without India. But you also have to see if India has the power to stop ICC from doing such a thing. But personally, I feel a strong message should be sent," Ganguly added.

Ganguly said India should to cut off all ties with the neighbouring country. “And, whatever reactions came from the people of India...was right. There is no chance of a bilateral series with Pakistan after this incident. I agree that after this attack, India should not only stop playing cricket, hockey or football with Pakistan but should cut all ties with them," Ganguly said.