Dubai;
I woke up today to the Gulf News(paper), having written on it's coverpage all over that the Indian Premier League (20-20 Cricket) being shifted from India to South Africa & England partly.
My first reaction was 'What the hell!', and further reactions were of being ashamed of my country's government and of the BCCI. A country which is the 2nd fastest growing economy in the world, with having the maximum number of security personnel in the world (public and private together), politicians of which country feel proud to shout the slogan of 'India Shining', gave up to the pressure of the invisible terrorist.
Few things which really amaze me are:
1. The elections were scheduled for around this time since a long time now. Why wasn't the dates or security been given enough thought & importance at the first go.
2. India is a potential target of Terrorist Activities, and always has been one, irrespective of the fact of IPL being conducted along with Elections. What gurantee does the government provide that if the IPL is cancelled or shifted their would be no violent activity which shall take place during the course of elections.
3. Voting in our country takes place in the morning time, whereas the IPL is a Day and Night affair. The government is not capable of providing enough security still?
4. When the rescheduling of dates for matches clashing on Election days was possible, why is their a need to shift venue to a foreign country?
5. Why did the Government wake up only after the attack on the Sri-Lankan team in Pakistan? Did they not know that elections and IPL were going to clash, or that India is surely a target for terrorists?
6. The point which amazes me the most is that, the BCCI is planning to schedule the Semi-Final and Final of the IPL in a foreign country which fall on dates after the 15th of May. The elections get over around 14th May, then where is the need to shift the venues of the semi-final and final to a foreign country?
The fact which comes out in open after all that we have seen and heard of from the government and the BCCI, is sheer IGNORANCE, and unpreparedness. Ignorance of the fact that India is always a target, and unpreparedness of dealing with a crisis situation, as always.
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Completely disagree bro... My 2 cents to ur above pts:
ReplyDelete1) IPL knew it was bound to happen, why did they announce their dates without taking the govt. in confidence or the EC.
2) Anywhere in the world, this can happen; and no frigging govt can do anything to stop it. In countries like India with such high poplns, the threat is very much alive, plus intelligence specifically is warning of attacks during election time... for a change the govt is wary of something, let it be na...
3) Voting is in the day...so what? SO you mean you ll make the already overworked guys work 24hr shifts. Pls, those times are already too tense for security agencies.
4,5)Do you mean that the govt. should keep in mind things like in din IPL hai, lets not keep polling? Bro, they already go thru months of discussions with every state for school & college exams, any other holiday, etc etc... Thousands of logistical difficulties you or anyone else can't even fathom. The EC chose its dates based on possibilities. The IPL can be held on other dates but you need security in place before and after polling for many many days to keep the allot boxes, election officials etc. safe. Read abt the preparations that go in it. Almost 10000 cr is spent on election holding (and here no corruption...its just organising costs)
6) The only reason I can think of is that country which will allow holding IPL, will want the finals and semis there maybe knowing it will attract good crowds. Plus vote count starts from May 16th, dont forget till then security guys cant move and inch...
And pls, for once, understand that all states and the central govt knows taht if anything happens in between due to lack of security, they ll be blamed for no damn reason. Its just playing it safe.
Plus, ELECTIONS are a 1000times more imp. than IPL
Also, where is the politics here? Ppl first said that the govt. is doing it to earn money, then it was saying its due to Modi. You think one man can make the govt say NO to such a big event or some petty politics.
ReplyDeleteWe need to appreciate that its clearly putting their foot down saying we cannot screw around with security. Cricket is safe maybe, but elections are a time of violence. And there already has been intelligence warnings, which now atleast someone is heeding to.
Hey Amit,
ReplyDeleteTrue, your points are totally valid. But when the Govt. had already told the IPL authorities that they can provide security on different dates, which do not clash with the election dates, I seriously dont see a reason then to shift the IPL even partly to foreign countries.
- Elections are surely much more, rather the most important event in the biggest democracy of the world.
- The Home Minister was correct to say that it will be tough for them to provide security for both elections and the IPL. But that is not an excuse for the IPL to shift to another country. They could opt for other Indian cities on different dates which do not clash with elections.
- Players security is surely of utmost importance. But the thought which comes to my mind is, these terrorists would always target us, if not during IPL, after that in some other way.
- The politicizing of the entire matter, was surely done by the opposition party of our country. The Home Ministry had valid reasons to say, whatever they did. But, the way the IPL authorities are going about everything is surely making them look like losers.
- I know what kind of money and security is needed for elections, but when the Govt. themselves are willing to provide security for different dates, I just do not see the reason...
- Also Mr. Abhishek Singhvi, spokeperson of the Congress Party, also made it clear yesterday on an Interview to NDTV, that they do not understand the reason why the IPL authorities are shifting the semi-final and final to a foreign country, when they don't clash with elections. Our country is surely powerful enough to have security for the 'counting process of elections' and for a cricket tournament along.
Sid.
Agreed again... but the opposition is like that...
ReplyDeletePlus pressure on Lalit Modi to perform is tremendous, else IPL is a dead deal frm next yr.
Advertisers, players, viewers all will lose interest; so I guess he and the IPL board/owners want to show/prove that they call the shots.
The final/semis thing is just a pressure tactic. I believe it will be in India only. They wanna redeem their lost pride nothing else ;) so bhaav khaayenge