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| Meek surrender on IPL too | | |
By Sushil Vakil
At a time when we Indians should have been proving that India will not buckle under terrorist threats, we have meekly surrendered. The shifting of the IPL out of India proves that.
Indeed, the shifting of Indian Premier League Twenty 20 matches out of India is likely to send a negative message to the world that all is not well with India. It will also create an impression that Indian agencies are not well prepared to meet the challenges posed by terrorists. Moreover, the shifting will not only discredit Indian security apparatus but also embolden the militants operating inside and outside to strike again, as happened in Mumbai on 26th November. The shifting of IPL venues will affect the country’s image as a safe destination.
Apart from govern- ment's rigid stand, the justification given by IPL organisers and BCCI on moving out can't be treated as a reasonable one. The events should have been postponed atleast till the elections are over. It's mere arrogance by the board and sponsors. Undoubtedly, the decision to shift the IPL out is the result of collective failure. More than anything else, the shifting will have an adverse impact on our tourist industry- one of the largest foreign currency earner- as the foreign tourists will avoid visiting India due to the hype created over security scenario. Further, the decision will not only disappoint millions of fans but also cut off the revenue that India would have earned had the tournament been held here.
No doubt, Home Minister Chidambaram, had at the very outset declared that it would not be able to spare central paramilitary forces for the eight venues where the IPL matches were to be played. While criticising the government for its failure to assure security bandobast Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi described the shifting of the IPL abroad as a “national shame”. BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley observed that the decision to have the IPL outside would send “a negative message to the world that India was unable to hold a domestic sporting event.”
The explanation given by the HM that the security for conducting the tournament is not conducive seems to be a mere excuse. India is not in the grip of terrorists as its neighbouring country-Pakistan-is. It is least possible for terrorists to repeat Lahore in any state of India. India has a large and strong security apparatus- capable to maintain law and order during Lok Sabha elections and IPL events. Nonetheless, IPL being a private tournament played by teams of various franchisees there was no obligation on the host country to provide foolproof security unlike during the World Cup or during matches between the teams of different countries. As such the government shouldn't have pressed the panic button more so when there was no threat either to the players or to the organisers from any terrorist or militant outfit.
There is no doubt that to ensure free and fair elections a number of security personnel are required at each polling station. But keeping in view the size of our army, security forces and the state police, India could have managed to part some personnel for the IPL events and players accommodations. It is ironical that neither the IPL organisers nor the government worked out any amicable solution so that the events could have been held during or after the general election. The fact also remains that the current elections are being held in five phases. The two processes could have been held side by side.
It is surprising that a country like India says it can not protect a high profile competition due to the election commitments. India can certainly give protection to the elections as well as to the tournaments as it has huge resources.
Apparently, it is an excuse to hide our helplessness that our security and intelligence agencies are not well prepared to meet any exigency. Could anyone ask our Home Minister as to how many companies of forces would be required to guard few stadiums, hotels and routes the players would take. On the part of BCCI the decision to conduct the IPL matches in an overseas country is a matter of great disappointment. Why not postpone the matches? What is the need to hold the tournament in another country when it is prohibitively expensive to do so? Whatever the reasons from government side 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.
As rightly stated, the government needs to find ways to provide security not for Cricket matches only but for all events. Not providing it amounts to accepting the concerns expressed over the security situation in India. Let us also look at upgrading our security system to competently handle mega events such as cricket and elections at the same time in future.
Well, if the fears of militant attacks are still rekindling the minds of Indian leaders than this tail piece posted on net by Mr Ranjit Kumar 3 days ago is a befitting suggestion.
Hey ! I have a suggestion : Why don't we shift the general elections? Anyway, who wants to vote for these ridiculous parties & their farcical candidates?
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