Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Saturday mocked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and said he would attend the upcoming India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match “silently, wearing a burqa,” news agency ANI reported.
The India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match will be held on Sunday in Dubai.
Speaking to reporters, Rane said, “Aaditya Thackeray will go silently to attend the match (upcoming India vs Pakistan match in Asia Cup 2025), wearing a burqa. His voice will also help him in this. After wearing a burqa, if he speaks in a woman`s voice, people will believe him… No one would recognise that he is Aaditya Thackeray…”
#WATCH | Mumbai: On Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, “Aaditya Thackeray will go silently to attend the match (upcoming India vs Pakistan match in Asia Cup 2025), wearing a burqa. His voice will also help him in this. After wearing a… pic.twitter.com/gedPqdVLQG
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2025
The minister also questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray`s right to comment on the match, accusing the party of remaining silent when pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised at a rally by one of its parliamentarians, ANI reported.
“Does Saamana or Uddhav Thackeray have the moral right to comment on the India-Pakistan match? During a rally of one of Uddhav Thackeray`s MPs, slogans of `Pakistan Zindabad` were raised, green flags were waved, green gulal was thrown, and slogans like `sar tan se juda` were chanted. So, why didn`t they express anger towards Pakistan then?” Rane asked.
Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief had questioned India’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup match against Pakistan, alleging that the government was mixing politics and business with patriotism.
Addressing reporters, he had said, “… Our Prime Minister said blood and water cannot flow together, then how can blood and cricket flow together. How can war and cricket be at the same time?… They have done business in patriotism. The business of patriotism is only for money. They are going to play the match tomorrow also because they want all the money they will get from that match…”
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister also announced that the women workers of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) would stage a symbolic protest.
“Tomorrow, Shiv Sena (UBT) women workers will come out on the streets in Maharashtra and they are going to send sindoor from every house to PM Modi,” stated Uddhav.
The Indian national cricket team is set to face Pakistan in an international cricket match for the first time after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Ahead of the clash, there had been widespread calls from the Opposition to boycott the match. However, the Centre had issued no objection to the Indian team playing Pakistan in any multi-nation tournament.
(With ANI inputs)
