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| MPs attack Chappell for post-match comments | | |
NEW DELHI, NOV 27
Coach Greg Chappell today fuelled further controversy and evoked strong reaction from across the political spectrum, with MPs attacking his comments after the loss of yesterday's cricket match against South Africa and one of them even threatening a privilege motion against him.
"If Members of Parliament are willing, a privilege motion can be moved against Chappell," Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Choudhary told a news channel.
Chappell had said in Cape Town, South Africa, last evening that he was not suprised by the sharp criticism from the MPs following India's poor show in the one-dayers so far.
He said the MPs were doing their job. "I am not surprised. They (MPs) are paid to do so in Parliament," Chappell said in the post-match press conference after India's 106-run defeat in the third ODI.
CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta said the former Australian captain "had no business" to make such comments.
"Chappell doesn't understand the nuances of democracy," he said.
"Let nobody lecture us" on what the MPs' job was, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said.
"Chappell is responsible for India's poor show," Shahid Siddiqui, MP of Samajwadi Party, said.
Chappell himself was reacting to questions about criticism from the MPs following India's 157-run loss in the second match in Durban last week.
Forced by the MPs' strong show of sentiments, BCCI President Sharad Pawar, also the Union Agriculture Minister, announced that Chairman of Selectors Dilip Vengsarkar would fly out to South Africa at the earliest to convery the emotions of Indian people to the team.
Union Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal President Lalu Prasad said Chappell's comments were "regrettable."
"I have remarked on the BCCI and the players as well and I ask why was Chappell brought in? The purpose of him being made coach has not been served," he said.
However, Rajeev Shukla, BCCI Media Committee chairman and Rajya Sabha MP, was critical of political leaders making vituperative comments on the cricketers and the coach.
He felt Chappell did not mean disrespect to the MPs.
"Definitely he should have refrained from making an observation about MPs because they are entitled to speak about performance of the Indian team. At the same, I don't feel he meant to show any kind of disrespect towards MPs," Shukla said.
Shukla said the MPs should show some restraint while commenting about sportspersons.
"I would request the MPs also to maintain a little bit of restraint while making comments about players and coach," he said.
"Those who follow cricket have every right to speak but there are certain MPs who don't know A-B-C-D of cricket and they are abusing them (the players and the coach).
"Tomorrow, if cricket players get up and start abusing MPs then what will happen?
"They are pursuing their political agenda. Political rivalries are playing their part in the garb of cricket."
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