Cup in bag, how politicians would react (read with tongue firmly behind cheek).Laloo Prasad: India won because the Wankhede Stadium is so close to the railway tracks. The tracks are in top shape because they were taken good care of when I was the railway minister, when the railways was a hugely revenue-earning department under me. I think this victory should be dedicated to the Indian Railways.
Mamata Banerjee: This victory proves that the Leftist government’s time is up in West Bengal. They have failed to inspire India to a single victory in their decades of misrule. The government should go — for a better future of the state, its people and the game of cricket. (Reminded that India had won the 1983 World Cup when the Left was still in power in the state, she called the reporter a “CPM stooge” and walked out of the media conference.)
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: I think the World Cup victory proves the fact beyond doubt that India has progressed under the guidance and governance provided by the Prime Minister, party president Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the grassroots level leadership of Congress. India had won the last World Cup as well under a Congress leadership at the Centre, but I think all political parties should forget their rivalries and share equal responsibility in the fact that India has won the World Cup. It is in the greater interest of the nation and all political parties.
Prakash Karat: It’s a conspiracy against the people by the West. The Left will win the elections in both Kerala and West Bengal. We strongly condemn any leaks by WikiLeaks in the past, present and future that denies this fact. (When reminded that he was asked about the World Cup victory, Karat said no comments.)
L.K. Advani: This victory is as pavitra as Bharat Mata and proves that corruption does not work at any levels of the government. The Congress should not take undue credit for the victory since this belongs to the people of India. It also proves that the government has failed in its cricket diplomacy with Pakistan, as the Lankans were thrashed without any diplomatic effort from the Prime Minister.
Bal Thackeray: India should not have played Pakistan, and Congress should shun its dynastic politics. We cannot afford to go soft on the minorities because they are taking over the country. The cricket board needs to think about the Marathi manoos: why there is only one Maharashtrian, Sachin Tendulkar, in the team? Had Pakistanis not offered prayers on the cricket ground, we would have ground the Lankans with more pressure. This is a soft government that believes only in diplomacy and not frontal attack.
