Activists of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) burnt an effigy of Pakistan cricket team at Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Their protest was staged against the proposed series of cricket matches between India and Pakistan in December.
Holding posters, the protestors raised took to the streets and raised slogans against the government for its kid-gloves attitude towards Islamabad.
VHP activist Shashi Prakash Indoria threatened to dig up the cricket ground if Pakistan team played any match in Rajasthan.
"We have burnt an effigy of Pakistan team at Ajmer as per directions of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to protest against the militant activities of Pakistan. If Pakistan plays any match at Jaipur, or in any other place in Rajasthan, then activists of the Shiv Sena and VHP will dig up the ground," said Indoria.
On November 1, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the resumption of cricketing ties with Pakistan.
It said that a Twenty20 (T20) international match will be played in Bangalore on December 25, and this would be preceded by three one-day matches.
Reacting to this, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray urged people through his party’s mouthpiece Samna, to obstruct all Indo-Pak cricket matches.
Speaking on similar lines, the chief of the Ajmer district chapter of the VHP, Munna Lal, said they would not let the Pakistan team play at any cost in India.
"Despite of the recent statement by our Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that Pakistan is supporting the militants and helping them in infiltrating in the Indian Territory, our government and Home Ministry has given permission to Pakistan team to play in India. Both Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena strongly condemn the series and we will not let Pakistani team to play on Indian soil at any cost," said Lal.
Bilateral cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed. India blames Pakistan-based militants for the incident.
The last series between the two sides was Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007 although Pakistan travelled to India to play the World Cup semi-final played at Mohali in Punjab last year.
ANI
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