India Vs Pakistan match: Thackeray's Sena stages ‘Sindoor’ protest, UBT leader writes to Sony Live to stop live telecast

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing controversy surrounding the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 has led to calls for a boycott, with political leaders expressing strong opposition to the match due to perceived political and patriotic implications [1][3][4]. Group 1: Political Reactions - Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey has formally requested Sony Pictures to halt the live broadcast of the match, emphasizing that it should not be aired in India [2]. - Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the government for mixing politics with business and patriotism, stating that the match represents a conflict between national sentiment and commercial interests [3][4]. - AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the BJP for allowing the match to proceed, questioning the justification of financial gains against the backdrop of human loss [5]. Group 2: Government and Sports Officials' Stance - Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur explained that participation in multinational tournaments like the Asia Cup is often mandatory for nations, implying that India is compelled to play despite the political tensions [6]. - Thakur reiterated that India has a longstanding policy of not engaging in bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until there is a cessation of terrorist activities directed at India [7].