The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially told the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send the Indian team to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, which is scheduled from February 19 to March 9.

Arguments Supporting Boycott

Security & Safety Concerns

• 26/11: The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks (26/11) heightened security concerns and created a significant trust deficit between India and Pakistan.
• Security of Players: Historical incidents, such as the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009 which even banned the sport in Pakistan from 2009-2019, underscore the real risks posed to international sports teams.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing geopolitical tensions and cross-border terrorism have raised doubts about the reliability of security guarantees.
• Safeguarding Large Contingents: Ensuring the safety of large contingents—including players, support staff, media, and fans—remains a significant challenge, especially in high-profile matches.
• Past Incidents of Disruption: Crowd hostility and pitch vandalism, especially during high-stakes Indo-Pakistan matches, highlight the volatility of fan emotions and the risk of disruptions during intense rivalries.

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Political Considerations

• Boycotts & Diplomatic Stance: Boycotts, such as those against Pakistan, align with broader diplomatic positions, particularly regarding cross-border terrorism.
• Sporting Isolation as a Political Tool: Similar to South Africa’s sporting isolation during apartheid or the global reaction to Israeli teams in competitions shows that politics and sports are often intertwined.

Public Sentiment & Emotional Factors

• Emotional Scars from 26/11 Attacks: The 2008 Mumbai attacks left lasting emotional scars, particularly due to the targeting of civilians.
• Victims’ Families and Cricket Ties: Families of the 26/11 victims strongly oppose the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan.
• Widespread Public Disapproval: Both media and public sentiment are strongly against the “cricket with Pakistan” narrative.
• Public Outrage: Players facing social media backlash for showing friendship with Pakistani cricketers.
• Strong Political Resistance: Various political parties oppose the resumption of cricket relations with Pakistan.

Arguments Against Boycott

Sports Diplomacy Benefits

• 1987 Sharjah Match: Javed Miandad’s last-ball six in Sharjah is remembered not only for its cricketing brilliance but also for improving Indo-Pakistan relations.
• Cricket Diplomacy (2004-07): The 2004-07 period saw successful cricket diplomacy with multiple bilateral series between India and Pakistan, helping to ease tensions.
• Ping Pong Diplomacy: The 1970s “Ping Pong Diplomacy” between the US and China highlighted sports as a tool for diplomatic breakthroughs.
• Cricket as Diplomacy: Cricket matches often provide a platform for informal diplomatic interactions, where leaders and officials can meet and discuss matters outside official channels.
• Neutral Venue Success: Matches held at neutral venues like the UAE and Bangladesh have demonstrated the potential for peaceful sporting competition between India and Pakistan.
• ICC Events & Peaceful Competition: ICC events continue to show that sporting competitions can offer a framework for peaceful exchanges between nations, even amidst geopolitical tensions.

Cricket Development Impact

• Impact Cricket and Ranking: The lack of bilateral series between India and Pakistan negatively affects both teams’ ICC Test Championship points and overall rankings.
• Loss of Historic Rivalry Experience: Young players miss the invaluable experience of competing in the historic Indo-Pak rivalry, which shapes careers and enhances skills.
• Loss of Competitive Matches: The absence of competitive matches against each other impacts team performance, reducing opportunities for players to test themselves in high-pressure situations.
• Affecting Cricket Council Events: The disruption of bilateral series affects the planning and execution of regional tournaments organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and other bodies.

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Human Connection Impact

• Historic Moments of Sportsmanship: Pakistanis emerged victorious by a slender margin and earned a standing ovation from a sporting Chennai crowd in 1989. 
• Iconic Player Rivalries: The respect between cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram, and the camaraderie between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, highlight the shared cricketing legacy and mutual admiration.
• Exhibition Matches: Joint Indo-Pak teams have participated in exhibition matches, demonstrating the potential for collaboration and unity through sport.
• Common Cultural Bond: Both India and Pakistan share deep cultural similarities and an overwhelming passion for cricket, making the sport a powerful unifier.
• Player Interactions on Social Media: Social media platforms often showcase positive interactions between players from both nations, especially during ICC events, promoting goodwill.
• Success of Other Sports Exchanges: Exchanges in sports like kabaddi and wrestling have also contributed to fostering positive relations and mutual respect between the two countries.

Economic Implications

• Impact on Broadcasting & Funds: The absence of Indo-Pak matches affects broadcaster commitments and development funds, leading to financial losses for cricket boards and regional development initiatives.
  • The absence of each bilateral series between India and Pakistan results in an estimated loss of $100-150 million.
• Decline in Tourism: Major matches between the two countries drive significant tourism and hospitality revenue, which is lost when matches do not occur.
• Impact on Sponsorships: The absence of high-profile matches affects sponsorship deals and brand partnerships, leading to reduced financial support for both teams and events.
• Reduced Value of ICC Events: The absence of Indo-Pak fixtures during ICC events diminishes the commercial value and excitement around these tournaments.
• Economic Impact on Small Cricket Businesses: Smaller cricket-related businesses and local vendors suffer financially due to the cancellation of Indo-Pak series, missing out on match-day sales and related services.

Precedents from Other Sports

• Successful Davis Cup Ties: Davis Cup tennis ties between countries have continued successfully, demonstrating that sport can bridge diplomatic gaps.
• Regular Hockey Competitions: Both nations have maintained a regular competition schedule in hockey, with continued success despite political tensions.
• Continued Participation in Chess: Chess and other indoor sports continue to thrive, with players from both countries participating regularly in international events.
• Olympic Games Involvement: Despite tensions, both countries continue to participate in Olympic sports, showing the ability to separate politics from sports at the international level.
• Neutral Venue Success: The neutral venue model has worked successfully in other sports, providing a platform for competition in a politically neutral environment.
• Pakistan Hosting International Events: Pakistan has successfully hosted international events, such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL), proving its ability to manage global sporting competitions.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nigeria on November 16-17, 2024, marks a pivotal moment to strengthen ties between two nations united by shared challenges and opportunities.

Shared Challenges and Complementary Interests

• Commonwealth Legacy: Both India and Nigeria share a colonial history under the rule of the British Empire, which has shaped their political, social, and economic systems.

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• Challenges Faced by Both Nations: Both India and Nigeria are 
  • Multi-ethnic societies, each navigating the complex challenge of balancing the interests of diverse
  • Large developing democracies both are most populous countries on their respective continents
  • Other challenges such as improving governance, socio-economic development, combating terrorism, and addressing corruption.
• Complementary Strategic Interests: The two countries also have significant complementarity in key strategic areas:
  • Hydrocarbons: Nigeria possesses hydrocarbons (fuel) that India needs.
  • Defence: India has a strong defence structure that Nigeria requires.
  • Healthcare and Education: India’s robust healthcare and education systems are highly valued and can be leveraged by Nigeria.
  • Institution Building: India has expertise in institution building that Nigeria can benefit from.

India-Nigeria Relations

India’s influence in Nigeria is both hard and soft. 

• Existing Indian Presence in Nigeria: Currently, there are over 150 Indian companies operating in Nigeria, with an estimated investment of $27 billion. 
  • With bilateral trade standing at $7.9 billion, India is Nigeria’s second-largest trading partner.
• Indian Diaspora: Nearly 50,000 Indians reside in Nigeria, making up the largest non-African (Oyibo) group in the country. 
  • They are well-regarded for their professionalism, integrity, and low-profile approach, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.
• Education and Healthcare: Many Nigerians travel to India for trade, medical treatment, and higher education, further solidifying people-to-people connections.

Decline in Bilateral Trade in the Past

Despite these impressive statistics, India’s standing in Nigeria has eroded over the past decade.                                                       

• Bilateral trade has halved from its peak, and India, despite being the top buyer of Nigerian crude oil, lacks significant upstream assets in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. 
• • India is merely a buyer rather a partner, producer or an investor.

• Reasons: Bilateral interactions have been sparse: the Prime Minister’s visit comes after 17 years, and the last Joint Commission meeting was 13 years ago. 
  • There is no significant economic partnership agreement between the two countries.

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Nigeria’s Changing Political Landscape and Reforms

• Political Courage Under President Tinubu: Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu, has been taking bold steps to confront its long-standing challenges.
  • Petroleum Subsidy Removal: The removal of fuel subsidies has saved the government $10 billion annually, although it has led to public discontent.
  • Currency Reforms: The Naira was freed from controls, causing a steep depreciation and 32 percent annual inflation.
  • Political House Cleaning: Tinubu dismissed several key functionaries, including the Central Bank Governor, the Head of Secret Service, and military brass, signalling his commitment to reform.
• While these actions have caused short-term economic upheaval and public dissatisfaction, President Tinubu has argued that these measures are necessary for national rejuvenation.

Expectation from India

Nigeria is looking to countries like India for support in different sectors

• Hydrocarbon: Nigeria remains an attractive partner for India due to its role as a major hydrocarbon supplier.
• Infrastructure: Nigeria lacks physical (roads and highways) and social (schools and hospitals) infrastructure and India’s financial assistance could be beneficial.
• Terrorism: Nigeria faces significant challenges, including Boko Haram’s insurgency, the rise of oil bunkering, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and a volatile neighbourhood. 
  • India’s experience in addressing similar challenges can provide Nigeria with valuable lessons, best practices, and opportunities for cooperation.
• Defence: Nigeria anticipates India’s assistance in defence supplies, training, and remote sensing capabilities. 
  • Benefit for India: This collaboration could not only enhance Nigeria’s defence capabilities but also boost India’s defence exports and strengthen bilateral defence ties between the two nations.
• Economy: One of Nigeria’s urgent needs is India’s assistance in economic stabilisation, as it faces a severe foreign exchange shortage.
  • India can opt for a currency swap like it did with Sri Lanka and Maldives or sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
• Other Goods: India can supply a range of goods to meet Nigeria’s needs, including petroleum products, foodstuffs (rice, wheat, milk powder), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agricultural inputs, and power equipment.
  • India’s Benefit: Complementarity can be found in imports from Nigeria, such as palm oil, hides and skins, ginger, and gum arabic.
    • These initiatives could help reverse the 29.7 percent decline in India’s exports to Nigeria in 2023-24, which fell to $3.6 billion.

Way Forward

• Moving Beyond AU: India has traditionally engaged with Nigeria through the African Union (AU).
• • Nigeria is too important for India to send its development assistance only through the African Union. 
• Use of Indian Diaspora: India also needs to make better use of its large diaspora in Nigeria, which is the country’s second-largest employer. 
• Platform to Private Sectors: Both countries’ private sectors should be better supported through a stronger partnership, with financial backing. 
• Export to Nigeria: India’s services exports—including those in Information Technology, banking, financial services, healthcare, and education—also have significant growth potential and should be supported.

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Conclusion

The upcoming Abuja Summit between India and Nigeria offers a unique opportunity to renew and strengthen bilateral ties. With a mix of ambition and sensitivity, India and Nigeria can forge a partnership based on shared values, strategic interests, and complementary strengths.

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The recent attack on Dr Balaji Jegannathan in Tamil Nadu highlights the alarming rise in violence against healthcare professionals. This comes at a time when the country is still in shock from RG Kar Case.

Tamil Nadu Doctor Case

Dr Balaji Jegannathan was stabbed multiple times by Vignesh at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital (KCSSH), where his life was only saved due to the top-notch care available in a super specialty medical institution. 

• Premeditated Act of Violence: This violent act was not a momentary outburst but a deliberate, premeditated attack. 
  • Vignesh brought a knife into a hospital setting, an indication that the assault was planned and not an impulsive reaction.
• Background of the Attack: The incident was driven by Vignesh’s frustration over the side effects his mother had suffered from chemotherapy, which affected her lungs.
  • Vignesh’s emotional distress led him to lash out at Dr. Jegannathan, blaming him for the health complications his mother experienced.
• Violence and Communication Gap: While violence against doctors is abhorrent, it is equally important to recognize that communication gap on the part of healthcare providers can also lead to frustration and anger from patients and their families. However, this does not justify violent retaliation.

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Ensuring the Safety of Healthcare Professionals

• Violence in healthcare settings is often fueled by emotions under stress, such as fear and frustration about a loved one’s health. 
  • While these emotions are understandable, hospitals must prioritise safety to prevent such violent outbursts.
• To address these concerns, hospitals must implement stronger security measures. Baggage scanners, CCTV surveillance, and a visible presence of security personnel can act as deterrents against potential violence.

Conclusion

Security measures can go a long way in ensuring that doctors can continue their work in a secure environment, free from the threat of violence.

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The Supreme Court of India gave a recent judgement against “bulldozer justice”, condemning the demolition of properties without due process.

Bulldozer Justice

• Meaning: The term “bulldozer justice” has gained attention in India, where state governments or municipal authorities use bulldozers to demolish homes, often of individuals accused of being involved in crimes (especially in the context of communal riots, protests, or violent incidents).
• Justification Given: The justification given by the government is typically that the structures are “illegal encroachments” or “unauthorised constructions,” and thus, they must be demolished. 
  • Supporters of this approach argue that it serves as a deterrent — thus aiding in decreasing such crimes
• No Legal Procedures are Followed: These demolitions allegedly target specific communities — particularly minorities and depressed classes — without adequate legal procedures, such as prior notice or the opportunity to contest the action in court.

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Supreme Court Verdict On Bulldozer Justice

• Two Judge Bench: The Supreme Court bench comprising justices K V Vishwanathan and B R Gavai gave a detailed judgement including the guidelines in respect to ‘Bulldozer Justice’.
• Guidelines Given: Using its authority under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Court has established guidelines for property demolition.
  • These guidelines include giving a 15 days notice to the property owner and allowing time for appeals. 
  • The authority will hold meetings where people can present their cases, and they will take notes during these meetings before making a final decision.
  • An inspection must be conducted, and the report should be signed in the presence of a witness.
  • Notice must be provided digitally and uploaded to the designated website within a three-month timeframe. 
  • The DM or collector is to receive official notification via email regarding these demolitions.
  • During the demolition process, it is essential to inform residents about the specific areas of the property being affected and the reasons for the authorities’ decision in the final order.
  • The authorities must provide a clear explanation of why the extreme measure of demolition is deemed the only viable solution.
  • The Court also stated that officials who do not follow these orders will be held personally responsible for restoring the demolished property at their own expense.
• Exceptions: The bench stated that its directions do not apply to unauthorised structures in public places like roads, streets, footpaths, near railway lines, or along rivers and water bodies. 
  • This also applies to cases where a court has ordered demolition.

Bulldozer Justice Violates Many Principles 

• Against Natural Justice: The apex court reiterated that this kind of demolition goes against the basic principle of natural justice.

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• Against Fundamental Rights: The Court has stated that justice cannot be achieved through force, and that punishing someone without due process violates fundamental rights. 
• Violation of Rule of Law: Punishment based solely on accusations, without proof of guilt, violates the rule of law.
• Against Separation of Powers: Such demolitions also undermine the principle of Separation of Powers, as it is the role of the police to apprehend the accused, while the judiciary is responsible for determining guilt or innocence.

• Against the Idea of Presumption of Innocence: This also goes against the concept of the presumption of innocence means individuals should not be punished without trial and a person is innocent until proven guilty.
• Illegality of Collective Punishment: Collective punishment refers to the unjust practice of penalising entire communities for the actions of a few individuals. 
  • Bulldozing the home of an accused person not only impacts the individual but also adversely affects their family.
• Violates Right to Shelter: When a house is demolished, the family’s right to shelter, which is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution as a fundamental right, is also violated.

SC Past Judgments and Lack of Change

• Hate Speech and Cow Vigilantism: The Supreme Court has, in recent years, spoken out against hate speech and murders by semi-vigilante groups acting in the name of cow protection.
• No Change: However, it seems this warning has had little effect, as these issues persist with little legal or political action.

Way Forward

• Raising Awareness: It is essential that people at the grassroots level are made aware of their legal rights and the constitutional protections they are entitled to.
• Awareness Among Local Authorities: At the same time, local authorities must be made fully aware of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on property demolitions and other forms of collective punishment.
• Political Will: As the main player, the Government has a crucial role in making sure that the Supreme Court’s guidelines are implemented effectively and that bulldozer justice is not allowed to become a tool of arbitrary punishment.

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Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s verdict against bulldozer justice is important but is not enough. Only through political accountability, will and a shift in local governance can true justice be ensured.

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