PM Modi’s ‘Op Sindoor’ Post After Asia Cup Goes Viral, Wins Praise On X, Draws Opposition Flak | Politics News

Last Updated:September 29, 2025, 20:20 IST

A political slugfest broke out as the BJP accused the Congress of being silent on India’s Asia Cup win with the Congress hitting back by saying the PM’s post was in poor taste

Fans celebrate after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE, on September 28. (Image: AP/Altaf Qadri)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ post on Team India’s Asia Cup win has gone viral with at least 1.12 lakh reposts and 29.5 million views, and these numbers are increasing by the second.

But a political slugfest broke out as the BJP accused the Congress of going into a “comatose state” after India’s thrilling victory in the Asia Cup. Hours after the BJP’s swipe, the Congress hit back saying Modi, as the Prime Minister, should understand that it is in poor taste to compare a cricket match and a battlefield.

WHAT DID PM MODI SAY?

Modi equated India’s 9th Asia Cup win to the military action, ‘Operation Sindoor’, which took place in May and targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

“Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” Modi posted on X after India won by trouncing Pakistan three times in the tournament and then walking away with the title in Dubai on Sunday (September 28).

Much-awaited amid ongoing controversies both on and off the field, the Asia Cup final took place even as opposition parties called to cancel the match over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Before the match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav skipped the pre-match photo session with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha. After India’s thrilling victory, however, things took an unexpected turn when the team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The Indian players celebrated without the trophy, instead posing with imaginary trophies on stage.

Internet users, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, had much to say about the Prime Minister’s post.

“Pakistan deserves such punishment,” said Rijiju on X, posting a picture of cricketer Jasprit Bumrah’s celebration on taking a wicket. 

“Thank you Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji for inspiring a new era of confidence & courage. Operation Sindoor is not just a sporting victory, it’s a message that New India leads with pride, on every front. For Jammu & Kashmir, this is more than a win it’s a symbol of our rising aspirations & national integration. Under your leadership, we stand united bold, proud, & unstoppable,” said security and geopolitics expert Sajid Yousuf Shah.

“After Operation Sindoor… it was Operation Tilak. Battlefield or cricket field – India’s victory over Pakistan comes every time…” said another internet user, referring to cricketer Tilak Verma’s pivotal knock.

Another internet user said: “33 minutes, 9 airbases/33 runs 9 wickets.”

WHAT DID THE BJP SAY?

The BJP took a swipe at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, saying they seem to have gone into a “comatose state” after India’s stunning victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.

“…India defeated Pakistan thrice and created a hat-trick, and won all the matches… Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have not given a single congratulatory message to our winning team till now… I want to tell them, do not let the shadow of your inferiority complex fall on our cricket team… P Chidambaram had recently expressed how he thought Pakistan should be dealt with, after 26/11, but his party did not allow him… Congress is ready to support Pakistan in all its propaganda, be it international diplomacy, so-called anti-national propaganda, or sports… Those who put in all their might to lower the confidence of our armed forces during Operation Sindoor, they are not speaking…” said BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi.

The BJP said Congress leaders seem to be more pained by Pakistan’s defeat, and it is just like Operation Sindoor when they “couldn’t bring themselves to congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strikes”.

“Not even a single social media post from the Congress congratulating our national team for thrashing Pakistan thrice in the tournament and bringing the Asia Cup home,” BJP IT department head Amit Malviya posted on X.

Malviya said it seems India’s stunning win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final has left Rahul Gandhi and the entire Congress in a comatose state.

“Just like after Operation Sindoor, when they couldn’t bring themselves to congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strikes, they now appear to be waiting for permission from Mohsin Naqvi and their other handlers in Pakistan before joining the nation in celebrating the Indian cricket team’s success. Once again, Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress find themselves on the same side of the divide,” he alleged.

WHAT DID THE CONGRESS SAY?

The Congress, meanwhile, slammed Modi’s remarks saying they were “polarising” and akin to that of a “cheap troll”, and that it is wrong to compare a cricket match and battlefield.

“Prime Minister, first of all, it is not right to compare a cricket match with a battlefield. Secondly, if you have made the comparison then you need to learn from the Indian team that when they are close to victory, good captains do not ceasefire on the advice of a third umpire,” said senior Congress leader Pawan Khera in Hindi.

“It is not the first time India has won the Asia Cup. We are proud of our team’s win, but the prime minister has a policy of polarising everything, whether it is air, water, or even sport,” said Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sakpal.

He alleged that the PM “does not maintain the dignity of the nation”, which “one can make out from his statements on such celebratory occasions.”

Echoing this criticism, senior Congress leader Naseem Khan accused the BJP of politicising every issue and said India should not have played against Pakistan.

“The way the neighbouring country treated our citizens in recent days, they have wiped off our women’s ‘sindoor’, at least we should not have played with them…the Indian team has always performed with dedication and brought honour to the country… Not everything should be politicised; the BJP has this habit of politicising every issue,” Khan said.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said there must be some difference between the PM and a “cheap troll”. Renewing the opposition’s old charge that it was wrong of India to play cricket with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, she said: “…he (Modi) played cricket with those who destroyed the vermillion on our daughters. And then compared the Army’s bravery, Operation Sindoor, to a cricket match,” she wrote on X.

“Do you have the courage to say this despicable thing to the widows of the martyrs of Pahalgam?” she asked.

(With agency inputs)

Oindrila Mukherjee

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st…Read More

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st… Read More

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