Raj Thackeray’s cartoon targets Amit Shah, son, over Indo-Pak match

Drawing a cartoon on the Pahalgam terror attack and the recent cricket match held between India and Pakistan, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief and cartoonist Raj Thackeray on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah. The BJP strongly condemned Raj Thackeray over his post.

In the cartoon shared on his social media handles, victims of the Pahalgam attack are depicted lying on the ground, while two men attempt to wake them, saying, “Please get up, guys! We have won, Pakistanis have lost!” One of the men, wearing clothes marked ‘ICC’ is seen as a reference to International Cricket Council chairperson Jay Shah. Beside him stands a person resembling Amit Shah, shown folding his hands and standing silently. The cartoon features the question in the background: “Who actually won? Who actually lost?” In his post, the cartoonist has used the hashtags Pahalgam, Kashmir, BCCI, ICC, Asia Cup, India VS Pakistan, cricket.

On Wednesday (September 17, 2025), Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar hit back at Raj Thackeray over his cartoon. He said, “A cartoonist shows his art in various ways. I believe that the art of any artist should be appreciated. But if it is political, then a political answer will have to be given. I wish to remind Raj Thackeray what he spoke after Operation Sindoor. Op Sindoor was opposed by everyone. But what our Army did was unparalleled. All these people are scared of Jay Shah. He has, on his own merit, worked hard and taken India’s name a few notches higher in the international sphere. He has worked for the benefit of the country. What has been spoken against him is improper and condemnable.”

The cartoon comes after India won in the recent Asia Cup match played against Pakistan. Several political parties had opposed the cricket match, seeking action against the terrorists. Raj Thackeray’s cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had earlier asked how blood and cricket could flow together, seeking action against Pakistan for the acts of terror. His son Aaditya Thackeray had slammed the BJP, alleging that the match was being played only for monetary reasons.