New Delhi, Jan 1 (NationPress) Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur has ignited a political discussion by condemning the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and co-owner, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, for selecting Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman for the forthcoming IPL season.

His statements have elicited varied responses from political figures, with many emphasizing the necessity of keeping sports distinct from political and diplomatic matters.

In a conversation with IANS, Thakur accused KKR and Shah Rukh Khan of overlooking the alleged harassment of Hindus in Bangladesh. He stated that the decision to recruit a Bangladeshi player has deeply hurt Hindus and followers of Sanatan Dharma, who played a role in elevating the actor’s fame, especially in light of reports detailing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

“Adherents of Sanatan and Hindus observe that, despite the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh—where individuals are being killed, set ablaze, and women assaulted—KKR has chosen to include a Bangladeshi cricketer in an Indian team,” Thakur expressed.

He contended that the funds allocated for acquiring a Bangladeshi player should be redirected towards India's development or as aid for families affected by violence in Bangladesh.

In response to the controversy, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo stated that human rights violations should be condemned universally, while also warning against intertwining sports with politics.

“We condemn oppression of any minority, whether it pertains to Hindus in Bangladesh or other oppressed groups globally. Such injustices must be vehemently rejected,” Trumboo remarked.

Congress leader Tariq Anwar also minimized the issue, asserting that sports should remain unaffected by political or diplomatic frictions.

“I am not familiar with the details of this matter, but sports must be independent from political influences. Similar debates have arisen previously during international tours. Whether a player hails from another nation or someone is a film celebrity, there should be no contention regarding such issues,” he added.

Conversely, the BJP resonated with Thakur’s concerns. BJP MLA Karnail Singh emphasized that worries about the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh are legitimate and questioned the motivations behind endorsing Bangladeshi players.

“If there’s genuine concern for Bangladeshi players, perhaps they should visit Bangladesh directly,” he commented.

Religious leaders in Ujjain have issued a stark warning, threatening to disrupt IPL matches by damaging pitches if Mustafizur Rahman is permitted to play.

This threat arises from escalating anger over recent violent incidents targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly two gruesome lynching cases linked to blasphemy accusations.

KKR has signed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for this year's IPL at a cost of Rs 9.2 crore.