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Som, while addressing a gathering, said players like Mustafizur Rahman would not be allowed to play in India
BJP’s Sangeet Som (left) attacks Shah Rakh Khan (right).
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Uttar Pradesh MLA Sangeet Som has trained guns on Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan over the inclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Targeting Khan—a co-owner of the team—Som described the move as objectionable and went so far as to label him a “gaddar” (traitor) for backing the decision.
Som, while addressing a gathering, said players like Rahman would not be allowed to play in India. “Hum daave ke saath keh rahe hain ki aise khiladiyon ko yahan khelne nahi diya jaayega. Shah Rukh Khan jaise gaddaron ko yeh samajh lena chahiye ki aap jis tarah desh ke saath gaddari kar rahe hain, agar aap aaj is mukaam par pahunche hain toh is desh ke logon ki wajah se pahunche hain. (We say this with certainty that such players will not be allowed to play here. Traitors like Shah Rukh Khan should understand that if you have reached this position today, it is because of the people of this country.)”
He added: “Kabhi Pakistan ko chanda dene ki baat karte hain, kabhi Rahman jaise khiladi kharidne ki baat karte hain. Yeh ab is desh mein nahi chalega. Aise gaddaron ke liye desh mein ab koi jagah nahi rahegi. (Sometimes there is talk of donating to Pakistan, sometimes of buying players like Rahman. This will no longer be tolerated in this country. There will be no place for such traitors in the nation.)”
The remarks come amid a spate of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including lynching of individuals from the community. Apart from this, several temples have also been vandalised since widespread protests and unrest led to the exit of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has issued strong warnings over attacks on minorities, expressing concern for safety and calling for protection of Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
Som is not the first to call out the inclusion of Bangladeshi players. Earlier, spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur had raised objections to Kolkata Knight Riders signing Rahman for the IPL 2026 season.
“Agar KKR ne us khiladi ko wapas nahi kiya, uski cancellation nahi ki, toh ‘khela hobe’, bahut bada khela hobe. Samay hai sambhal jao, samay hai sudhar jao, warna samay ulti disha mein behne lagega. (If KKR does not return that player and cancel the decision, there will be ‘khela hobe’, a very big game will happen. This is the time to be careful and correct yourselves, otherwise time will start moving in the opposite direction),” he told his supporters.
January 01, 2026, 15:23 IST
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