Virat Kohli fan's arrest shows Pakistan's hatred for India: Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Lashing out at Pakistan, Shiv Sena said on Friday that by arresting a fan of Indian cricketer Virat Kohli for hoisting the Indian tricolour while terrorists are “roaming free” on its soil, the neighbouring country has once again displayed its hatred for India.

The ruling coalition partner also sought to know when Indian government would take action against anti-national elements and “disloyal Pakistan-lovers”.

“Umar Draz’s house was raided and he was charged with committing an offence against his country (Pakistan). Was his mistake really this big?” an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said.

“Those who attacked the Indian Parliament, (those who) were responsible for the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and recently for the attack on Indian Air Force base in Pathankot and are roaming free in Pakistan. By arresting the youth, the country (Pakistan) has once again displayed to the world its hatred for India,” it said.

Umar Draz, 22, a tailor by profession from Okara district of Punjab province in Pakistan and a die-hard fan of Indian batsman Virat Kohli, was arrested on January 26 when India beat Australia in a T20 match in which Kohli scored 90 runs. He is facing up to 10 years imprisonment.

Police raided Draz’s home on a complaint that he hoisted the Indian flag on the rooftop of his house.

“One has never heard of police raids in places where most wanted terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi Azhar Masood take shelter and run their organisations,” the Sena quipped.

“Didn’t our country have fans of Wasim Akram, Imran Khan? One will find many fans of people like Mehendi Hasan, Rahat Ali, Ghulam Ali, but our government never arrested them. On the contrary, nationalists who try to stop Ghulam Ali from performing here are sneered at,” the party said.

It said that many a times after an India-Pakistan cricket match, crackers are burst in some places in the country, if India loses. But, Indian government has never taken objection to this.

“There is constant sloganeering in support of Pakistan in Kashmir. On Independence Day, Pakistan flags are waived in Lal Chowk of Srinagar and the Indian flag is burnt. Unfortunately, the Indian government is never aggressive,” the Sena rued.

The editorial also said that lessons need to be learnt from the Pakistani youth’s arrest.

“Umar Draz was not disloyal but Pakistani government acted against him. When will our government take action against disloyal Pakistan-lovers? There is a lesson to be learnt from Umar’s arrest,” the Sena said.