NEW DELHI, March 21: Adding to the uncertainty over the fate of the second edition of the Indian Premier League, Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram indicated today that it may not be enough that the IPL has avoided matches on poll days in its revised schedule to get it the home ministry's clearance.
Mr Chidambaram said the IPL organisers will also have to take into account the election dates of not only the states where matches are being held, but also of neighbouring states. “You see, if election is taking place in a neighbouring state or just across the state border... if we have an IPL match in the state, there could be problems,” he said in an interview on CNN-IBN.
He said he was still awaiting the states' response to the league's revised schedule.
Elections were “unquestionably” the first priority, the minister maintained. “I cannot exempt any state government from giving to the Election Commission forces which they promised,” he said. He said he would not spare any Central paramilitary forces.
India remained a safe place to conduct sporting events but security can not be guaranteed for the period of elections, the home minister said.
On whether the IPL should simply be called off if the dates failed to work out, Mr Chidambaram said, “I think the organisers are responsible people. I think they are patriotic Indians. I think they will take a call.”
Mr Chidambaram said the IPL organisers will also have to take into account the election dates of not only the states where matches are being held, but also of neighbouring states. “You see, if election is taking place in a neighbouring state or just across the state border... if we have an IPL match in the state, there could be problems,” he said in an interview on CNN-IBN.
He said he was still awaiting the states' response to the league's revised schedule.
Elections were “unquestionably” the first priority, the minister maintained. “I cannot exempt any state government from giving to the Election Commission forces which they promised,” he said. He said he would not spare any Central paramilitary forces.
India remained a safe place to conduct sporting events but security can not be guaranteed for the period of elections, the home minister said.
On whether the IPL should simply be called off if the dates failed to work out, Mr Chidambaram said, “I think the organisers are responsible people. I think they are patriotic Indians. I think they will take a call.”
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