Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On cheerleaders

The controversy surrounding the attire of cheerleaders in the IPL matches is unwarranted. All citizens have the fundamental right to freedom of expression. All cheerleaders may not be Indian citizens but the cricket fans are. Why interfere with their right to enjoy the game? Agreed, the right to freedom can be restricted to maintain decency and public order, but none of them has been jeopardised by the cheerleaders. There have been no reports of riots breaking out after cheerleaders’ dance.

The show at the IPL matches is much better than what we see in Bollywood films. Moreover, the complaint has not come from the people. A few politicians do not represent the people of India.

Rahul Jain,

Ambala

The import of the cheerleading concept is yet another step in the backward direction we are taking in the name of westernisation. I am not sure why we accept all the western ways without separating the meaningful ones from the meaningless. At a time when more and more western people are looking at the east as a source of ancient wisdom, it is an irony that we are so enthusiastic about importing silly concepts like cheerleading.

Manjunath Hadli,

Bangalore

Cricket has enough magnetism to attract people across the world during all seasons. The introduction of cheerleaders, a western idea, in the IPL matches is nothing but a tactic to attract more spectators to the venues. Indians have never encouraged or promoted obscenity. Let the game remain as it has always been.

S.M. Fasiullah,

New Delhi

Cheerleaders are meant to entertain. With Test matches and limited-over matches reaching a saturation point, cricket administrators introduced the new edition called Twenty20. Just as they auctioned players, they brought in paid cheerleaders at the matches. They may add glamour but certainly do not enrich the atmosphere. In fact, they distract the crowd and the players. Governments cannot be faulted for taking steps to regulate their dress code.

A. Ramanathan,

Chennai

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