The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 saw a controversial moment even before it began. Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman , picked by Kolkata Knight Riders, was barred from playing in the tournament. Though no official reason was given, the political turmoil in Bangladesh was seen as a major factor behind the decision. Arun Dhumal, the current IPL chairman, was asked about the omission in a recent interview in Financial Times . Arun Dhumal was asked: "Politics keeps rearing its head in cricket. Pakistani players have not played in the IPL since 2009, and more recently, Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman after the BCCI instructed the franchise to do so in January 2026. Is it unrealistic to delink the IPL from politics in the subcontinent?" Dhumal replied: "It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times. I do not think the government has any interest in or role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at l...
Two more Congress leaders have come out in support of the NDA government's handling of the war in the Middle-East, deviating sharply from the party stand. While former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, flatly said there is no LPG crisis, Anand Sharma, the foreign minister in the erstwhile UPA government, applauded India's "diplomatic handling of the crisis" in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter. In what could amplify any trouble within the party, he added, "National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour".
Earlier, Congress's Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari had deviated from the party stand regarding the war in the Middle-East. The party, though, had not commented on the matter. The two leaders' comments had left the party red-faced earlier also, especially on the matter of Operation Sindoor. The party had benched them during the Op Sindoor debate in parliament.
This time, two more leaders had deviated from the party line.
"Indian diplomatic handling of the crisis has been mature and skillful avoiding potential minefields," Sharma said in one of his 11 posts on the subject.
India's response, he wrote, "must be backed by a national consensus and resolve".
The government, he added, has held an all-party meeting to apprise political leaders about the policy decisions in "an unpredictable and volatile situation".
"This national dialogue should be sustained. National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour," he had added, clarifying that apart from the "historical and civilisational relations with Persia", there is also the question of the energy crisis.
"The war has aggravated the energy, economic and global security challenges. Global Supply chains disruption, tremors in world markets and sharp depreciation of Rupee and national currencies presents an immediate and long term challenge that needs to be urgently tackled," he wrote.
Also, "Critical energy supplies of Petroleum, LPG - PNG, 200 billion of Trade, the interest and security of 10 million strong Indian diaspora also almost 60 percent FOREX remittances have to be borne in mind," he added, pointing to what is at stake, especially for the younger generation.
The stance was a notable departure from the line of the party, which has been vocal in its condemnation of the government, insisting that it has been following the lead of the US and Israel and turning against a longtime partner.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the government has "surrendered".
Kamal Nath, in face of multiple reports of LPG shortage, said, "There is no such shortage. It is just an atmosphere being created that there is a shortage."
There is "no dearth of cooking gas" in the state, he said, accusing certain quarters of deliberately manufacturing panic for political gains.
Nath's party has been consistently targeting the Central and the Madhya Pradesh government on the war, alleging delays in LPG supply and hardship faced by the public.
His comments have left the party open to BJP attacks. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a post on X, said, "Now even Congress leader Kamal Nath has himself stated that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, and gas in the country. The Congress party, which has been misleading the public for so long with lies and illusions, should be ashamed."
It is time for the Congress party to stop trying to gain political mileage by instilling fear and distrust in the public, he added.
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