Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

IPL tournament

The Opposition is not expected to oppose everything the government does. The BJP’s stand that the shifting of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 matches out of India will send a negative message to the world is unacceptable. India is not unwilling to hold the matches but the time for conducting the tournament is not conducive. Security personnel are needed for the conduct of the Lok Sabha election. Nothing will happen if the IPL matches are delayed by a couple of months.

M.E. Manickavasagom,

Nagercoil

IPL is a private tournament played by teams of various franchisees. There is no obligation on the host country to provide foolproof security unlike during the World Cup or during matches between the teams of different countries. The BCCI would be well advised to arrive at a compromise with the government, keeping in mind that the general election is of paramount importance.

T.T. Krishnan,

Mumbai

The decision to shift IPL season II out of India is good riddance to an affliction that has debilitated our country in many ways. Security personnel are required for better purposes. A game that has such a huge backing of money power can take care of itself.

Y.S. Kadakshamani,

Madurai

The government deserves to be complimented for not buckling under pressure and the threat of IPL’s politicisation. To ensure free and fair elections and their peaceful conduct, a number of security personnel are required at each polling station.

We cannot expect the forces to be moved out of sensitive areas for providing security to players. Although India is safe, security cannot be treated lightly.

Pranav Sachdeva,

New Delhi

The government has done the right thing by giving preference to the conduct of elections as far as providing security is concerned. No other event brooks priority over the democratic exercise, whatever the railings of the bigwigs of the IPL or anyone supporting the endeavour to overstretch the security forces. A small lapse in security is enough for those who want to play havoc at the time of elections.

Kais Sait,

Chennai

The governments at the Centre and in the States deserve to be appreciated for not succumbing to the pressure tactics of IPL. The people conducting the IPL have displayed utter disregard for the Lok Sabha election. It is time the media stopped the unnecessary hype over the T20 tournament.

C. Hariharan,

Tirunelveli

The decision of the BCCI and the IPL authorities to take the second edition of the league away from India will surely upset the domestic fans. But considering the mammoth task of holding a peaceful general election, the options before the government were limited. Let the celebrities and players unwind this time at Lord’s or Wanderers.

Salin Thomas,

Kottayam

The BCCI’s decision to conduct the IPL matches in an overseas country is a matter of great disappointment to millions of cricket lovers in India. Why not postpone the matches? What is the need to hold the tournament in another country when it is prohibitively expensive to do so? The BCCI ought to have taken a decision to postpone the T20 tournament, taking into account the security aspect and the sentiment of cricket fans.

K. Sivasubramanian,

Chennai

The shifting of IPL venues will in no way affect the country’s image as a safe destination. The world is watching India as it gets ready to pass another milestone in its rich democratic tradition. No event can be allowed to interfere with the smooth and peaceful conduct of the election. The BJP’s charges are politically motivated.

K.C. Manikantan Nair,

Meenachil

The tournament can be conducted in India after the elections are over. The costs involved in rescheduling the tournament cannot be more than shifting it to a foreign venue.

S. Krishnan,

Chennai

If the BCCI decides to conduct the IPL matches after the election, it will not only save the government unnecessary embarrassment but also help thousands of cricket fans to enjoy them.

S. Vanmeekanathan,

Chennai

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A stinging censure
The French public as a barometer
A stench that is all too familiar
The Congress dharma and dilemma statecraft
New Age Islam battles fundamentalists in cyberspace
Cambridge college to teach imams about cohesion
Corrections and clarifications
Censure of Varun
IPL tournament

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu