New Delhi, Feb 2: Following Pakistan’s decision to boycott its high-profile T20 World Cup match against India, the Opposition on Monday termed the move the ‘biggest slap on the face’ of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Several Opposition leaders also questioned India’s participation in matches against Pakistan after ‘Operation Sindoor’. Meanwhile, the BJP said Pakistan’s decision was inconsequential and it was another example of its cowardice.

Speaking to media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Pakistan’s boycott exposed the failure of cricketing diplomacy.

“This is the biggest slap on the face of the BCCI. The BCCI is the most powerful and richest cricket body in the world and an influential member of the ICC. After the terror attack and ‘Operation Sindoor’, we repeatedly raised Pakistan’s role in promoting terrorism on global platforms. Families of the 26 people who lost their lives kept appealing that matches should not be played with Pakistan,” she said.

Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh echoed similar concerns, stating that Pakistan should have been stopped from playing India immediately after ‘Operation Sindoor’.

“At that time, we raised the question of why India was still playing Pakistan. Terror attacks were carried out, innocent people were killed, and it was a serious issue. Yet matches continued. Now Pakistan is pretending to be the victim, while our people suffered losses. The ICC should take strict action. In a way, Pakistan is slapping us in the face, and India should take a firm stand,” he said, adding that the ICC’s representatives appeared to be failing in enforcing discipline.

Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said, “Pakistan is meaningless and acting irrationally. Pakistan is not loyal even to Imran Khan or to its own people, so how can it be loyal to India? What Pakistan says about India makes no difference, because India has defeated Pakistan every time.”

Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Kumar Rai said India missed an opportunity to take a decisive stand earlier.

“It is our mistake. We should not have given Pakistan the opportunity to refuse playing against us. A better decision should have been taken immediately after ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Congress MP Tariq Anwar said, “It is unfortunate that Pakistan refused at the very last moment, just when the time had come to play the match. It’s against the norms. There are few days left, then they are taking this decision. This is wrong.”

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said the situation raised serious questions for the ruling party and cricket authorities.

“India will not tolerate threats. Whoever wants to leave can leave. But the BJP and the BCCI will have to answer how a country like Pakistan, and even smaller nations like Bangladesh, feel confident enough to issue threats or boycotts against India. The BJP must respond clearly,” he said.

In contrast, BJP leaders dismissed Pakistan’s decision as irrelevant. BJP MP Damodar Agrawal said, “It is their matter whether they play or not. There is no need for any reaction from our side.”

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo criticised Pakistan’s history, calling the boycott another example of its cowardice.

“Pakistan has a long history of retreat. In 1947–48, when it intruded into Kashmir, the Indian Army pushed them back. The same pattern was seen in 1965. During ‘Operation Sindoor’ as well, history repeated itself. We will appeal to the ICC to ban Pakistan’s cricket team for violating ICC norms,” he said.

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said Pakistan benefited financially from Indian viewership.

“It is better if they do not come. They earn revenue from Indian television channels. On their own, they will not even be able to pay their cricketers,” he said.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam said India’s strength had already been proven on and off the field.

“Our players have shown that even on Pakistan’s home ground, they are capable of defeating them. Whether in the sky or on the ground, India has taught Pakistan lessons. This is a transformed India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi that enters enemy territory and acts decisively,” he said.

BJP Maharashtra President Amit Satam said, “This is Pakistan’s nature. Over the past many years, Pakistan has always behaved in this manner, and every time they show the same nature.”

BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi stated that Pakistan’s global standing had weakened further after Operation Sindoor.

“Our brave soldiers entered Pakistan and destroyed terrorist hideouts, leaving them shaken. Pakistan has no status left. It would be better if they do not play with India,” he said.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal emphasised national security over sports.

“India is not concerned about this issue. The safety of our country is paramount. Pakistan creates chaos, and it does not matter whether they play or not,” he said.

BJP MP Naresh Bansal concluded by saying that Pakistan’s boycott would not affect India.

“This is their decision. If they do not play, we will still go ahead and play,” he added.

Mumbai: Fifteen days after the 2026 BMC elections concluded, the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) corporators will register today with the  Konkan division commissioner, at Konkan Bhavan today (Monday, February 2). The two parties fought the BMC elections as Mahayuti, and it was said until last week that the two parties will register their newly elected corporators as a single group. However, Mumbai BJP President Ameet Satam confirmed that the BJP and Shinde Sena corporators will register seperately. 

The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS and other parties’ corporators registered with the Konkan commissioner within days after the civic poll results were declared. While the BJP and Shiv Sena corporators were scheduled to register last Thursday. However, following the accidental death of ex-Dy CM Ajit Pawar and three-days state mourning, the registration was postponed.

Although, Shinde Sena has not taken back their demand for mayoral post and standing commitee, considering the winning numbers, the mayoral and standing commitee posts are more likely to fall into BJP’s kitty. There were talks that Shinde Sena is demanding mayoral post and willing to give away standing committee to the BJP, however, both the parties have not officially confirmed their decision yet. Apart from standing committee, the improvement, education, health and BEST are also crucial committees for which the chairman’s posts are to be divided among the Mahayuti.

In the reservation lottery, it is determined that the post of Mumbai major has been reserved for General (Women) category, and senior corporators like BJP Alka Kerkar, who is also deputy mayor; and Rajashree Shirwadkar, whose husband is general secretary of Mumbai BJP are top contenders for the post of Mayor of Mumbai.

Once all the newly elected corporators are registered with the Konkan commissioner and municipal secretary, the administrative procedure for the mayoral elections will begin. The mayoral elections will be held at least week after corporators’ registration. The mayor of Mumbai is expected to be elected in second week of February. 

The leader is opposition is said to be from Shiv Sena (UBT). The party has already selected former mayor, Kishori Pednekar as it’s group leader. The leader of opposition is expected to be announced after mayor and deputy mayor is elected.

The chairman’s and members of the statutory committees will be appointed after that.

The BMC polls results for all 227 seats were declared on January 16, in which BJP emerged as the largest party winning 89 seats and Shinde Sena won 29. The Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 and MNS won six. The Congress which contested in alliance with VBA won 24 seats, NCP won three and NCP (SP) won one. While AIMIM win eight seats and SP won two.

Palghar: The police have successfully reunited a man with his family a decade after he went missing, following a special operation to reopen and solve long-pending cases, officials said on Sunday.

The man, identified as Praveen Pawar (39), had left his home in Palghar district in 2016 after a dispute with his parents. Since then, he remained untraceable, despite efforts by his family to locate him.

Pawar, who is originally from Ahilyanagar, was working at a hospital in Vikramgadh in Palghar district at the time he went missing. After leaving home, he cut off all contact with his family, leaving them uncertain about his whereabouts for nearly 10 years.

The breakthrough came under Operation Muskan-14, a special programme launched by Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh to trace missing children and adults by revisiting old and unsolved cases. As part of the drive, police teams reopened Pawar’s case and began following fresh leads using modern investigative techniques.

Wada police station inspector Dattatray Kindre said Pawar was traced to Delhi on Saturday with the help of technical investigation, human intelligence, and social media tracking.

Police officials said formalities are currently being completed to ensure Pawar’s safe return and reunion with his parents. The case has been cited as a major success of Operation Muskan, highlighting how renewed investigation and technology can help solve long-forgotten missing person cases.