MLAs bat for release of cricketers held for playing Pak anthem

Jammu: Congress legislator Usman Majeed and Independent MLA Engineer Rashid Tuesday strongly raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly the issue of four cricketers being detained for allegedly playing the Pakistani national anthem before a cricket match in Bandipora district on Sunday.
Majeed urged the State Government to “pardon” the young cricketers, while Rashid tried to defend them and protested in the House. Rashid was subsequently marshalled out of the House.
“I say sorry on their behalf in the House,” Majeed said.
“They should be pardoned and cases against them should be withdrawn, as the Government has withdrawn cases against stone pelters… We want our youth to take a positive direction,” he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested the four cricketers after a video surfaced on the Internet, purportedly showing the young men playing Pakistan’s national anthem ahead of a match.
Speaking to reporters later, Majeed strongly batted for their release. He said the cricketers might have acted under pressure from mischievous elements during the cricket match.