Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 14 (ANI): Congress MP KC Venugopal on Sunday slammed the centre over the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, demanding a reply from the BJP.

KC Venugopal slandered the BJP for criticising Congress MP Rahul Gandhi whenever the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha raises questions over China, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself visited the nation during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

'Those who are talking about patriotism have to reply to all these things. Whenever Rahul Gandhi discusses China in parliament, they say that Rahul Gandhi is China's man. Now our own prime minister is going to China and talking with them, so there is no problem at all. The BJP people are basically doing false narratives on all these things. They have to reply to all these things,' he said.

'BJP is not interested in doing welfare for the people. They are only interested in dividing the people. This is what they are doing everywhere,' he added.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly opposed the India-Pakistan cricket match, stating that this match is not between India versus Pakistan but BCCI versus Pakistan.

Priyanka Chaturvedi urged people to boycott, 'This match is not India versus Pakistan, but BCCI versus Pakistan. Because the real Team India will not play with terrorists, nor will it hurt the sentiments of the people in the country.'

'They are arguing that we don't play bilateral matches but can't refuse to play multilateral matches. They said there's a paradigm shift in India's security interests, there will be no trade with terror, talks with terror. I request everyone to boycott this match,' she added.

The high-voltage contest is underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with Pakistan opting to bat first after winning the toss. Both teams are heading into the contest on the back of convincing wins in their respective openers.

Ahead of the clash, there had been a widespread demand from the opposition to boycott the match. However, the Centre had issued no objection from the Indian team to playing against Pakistan in any multi-nation tournament. (ANI)