The Services team’s last-minute decision to skip Ranji Trophy match here has put a question mark over the Army’s proclaimed successes in the region, according to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who on Tuesday lashed out at the Army for following “double standards” in the State.
In a scathing attack against the Services team, Mr. Abdullah said “Army has made tall claims about its successes in the State against the militant groups. The incident clearly shows the double-standards of the Armed forces operating here.”
It was a bizarre scenario at the Sher-E-Kashmir stadium where Ranji Trophy match was organised after a gap of two decades and all the dignitaries including the Union Minister of State for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah were present but the Services team did not turn-up.
The Chief Minister said that he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram as such an act has negated the government of India’s positive assessment of the State’s security situation.
“I will be speaking to Centre on the issue. Such an act is clearly an indication that some people don’t want normalcy in the State. When the team of Armed Forces refuses to play a match citing security concerns, what message will it send across,” he said.
Earlier, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah also lambasted the Services team saying that the team has negated the views of the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister on the security situation in the State.
“We were all waiting for the Services. We were here to welcome them. It looks very bad that of all teams, Services decided not to come. It shows a very bad image of India,” Dr. Abdullah said.
The Services team was scheduled to play a Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association here from Tuesday. Their decision to forfeit the match prompted the BCCI to ban the team from participating in the Ranji Trophy this year.
The forfeiture gave the State four points and they will now take on Haryana at the same venue from November 10 to 13.
