India vs Bangladesh Match Under Threat Amidst Potential Unrest

The first T20 International between India and Bangladesh in Gwalior is seemingly in danger of being called off. The reason is apparently due to multiple Indian right-wing organizations having risen in objection to Bangladesh’s ongoing tour of India due to alleged attacks against the Hindu community in Bangladesh during the recent student-led protests. 

The Hindu Mahasabha has called for a total shutdown of Gwalior on October 6 to protest the planned India-Bangladesh cricket match.

The national vice-president of the organization, Jaiveer Bharadwaj told local media that atrocities on Hindus were still going on in Bangladesh and thus India should not play cricket with them. “The Hindu Mahasabha has given a call for ‘Gwalior Bandh’ on the day of the match and there will be no ban on essential commodities” he added.

This is not the first time such protests have affected the tour either, with members of Akhilesh Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha organizing a ‘havan’ (a ritual in which offerings are burnt to bring good luck) on the road to Kanpur’s stadium in protest of the alleged atrocities on Monday.

Local police officials have commented on the matter, stating “We are reviewing the security arrangements to leave no stone unturned and are confident of getting an adequate police force to meet the requirements.”