Chennai: Cloud of uncertainty hovers over IPL
In all, seven IPL matches are to be held at Chennai between April 10 and May 20.
Chennai: With TTV Dhinakaran now joining the growing number of political leaders and Cauvery activists demanding boycott of the IPL matches in Chennai and even senior minister D.Jayakumar hinting it would be prudent for the BCCI to skip the city, a dark cloud of uncertainty seems heading for the M.A.Chidambaram stadium by the Marina.
“I appeal to cricket lovers to boycott the IPL matches to strengthen the voices of farmers in the protest to retrieve the rights on Cauvery”, tweeted the ruling AIADMK's rival and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader Dhinakaran on Friday.
IPL is coming to Chennai after two years and there is much excitement among the fans with an estimated 10,000 of them crowding MAC stadium in Chepauk on Friday to watch home team Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni and his men practice for the opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10.
In all, seven IPL matches are to be held at Chennai between April 10 and May 20.
While some political leaders, farmers' representatives and pro-Tamil activists have demanded cancellation of the IPL schedule in Chennai, some others have appealed to the public to boycott the matches and present an empty stadium to the TV cameras to carry their protest far and wide over multiple channels. Some others have advocated entering the stadium buying tickets and staging demonstrations in the stands for greater impact, while a few have even threatened they would storm the players' room and prevent them from going out to play.
DMK working president M.K. Stalin said, “We are not saying that it (IPL) should not be held. The organisers should realise the problems of people and act accordingly.”
When reporters asked fisheries minister Jayakumar about the threats sounded by various leaders and outfits against the IPL matches, said the BCCI “will understand the situation in Tamil Nadu and they will decide whether to hold the matches or not”.
“If they (BCCI) write to us seeking security, we cannot say we will not provide security”, the minister said, clearly hinting the government would rather not face the embarrassing situation of Cauvery protesters forcing a showdown with the diehard cricket fans at Chepauk.
“There is still a huge hope that such a situation will not happen as the Supreme Court could say something soothing when the Cauvery case comes up before it on April 9”, said Rahul J, a student holding tickets for his 'Dhoni-crazy gang'.
His 'hope' seems justified since the CJI Bench, while taking up TN's contempt petition, had promised to resolve the issue and ensure the state gets the Cauvery water.