There is something fishy about this whole IPL rescheduling business in view of elections on security grounds. On the face of it, it has been made out to be a patriotic issue - Which is more important to the Country Elections or IPL?
Before I proceed, I have to raise a strong objection to IPL, a private initiative, sponsored by a Non Profit (sic) organizationa like BCCI, that doesnt pay a Rupee as tax, being provided security at Taxpayers expense. This is ridiculous. IPL makes enough money and they should either have their own security or should me made to pay up a hefty sum to the state treasury for getting sufficient police force.
But that is a more philosophical issue that needs tackling at a different level. The real issue now is different. The current imbroglio is pure vendetta on the part of the Congress Government. Fine, elections mean deployment of security forces that really stretches the infrastructure of our police and para military. But we have not heard the Government object to any other sports events or any other public event to be held during election period because security is not available. Why pick IPL alone? And are we not going to have any events - sports, arts or even religious functions - for 45 days till the elections are over? This is ridiculous. By that same token, we should tell all the netas that no security cover will be provided to them since the personnel are required for election duty - Elections should defnitely come above personal security! ( Why we should have an election spread over 45 days when we are using electronic voting machines and why should the counting be done after all these days when it is so easy using EVM is a mystery. We used ot have one day elections in 1970s with primitive paper ballots and the results were announced withing 48 hours. Now it takes 45 days!! )
I am digressing. The whole saga of government targetting IPL has its root in Lalit Modi, the IPL Chairman, being close to the ex BJP Chief Minister of Rajastan, Vasundare Raje Sindhya. When Congress came to power, they started targeting Lalit Modi, who is no saint himself. Then Congress hit upon the idea of advertising heavily on TV during IPL and going in for in stadia advertisements as a marketing strategy - they had devised a plan and allocated Rs 500 million budget for this. Modi, not wanting to antagonize any political party, took the stand that IPL cannot be used for any political advertisements, which put Congress in a bit of a spot.
And there are no parties that carry a vendetta more than Congress. They are more like a wolf in a sheeps clothing. First P Chidambaram sounded the bugle and said IPL has to be post poned as Home Ministry cannot give security in view of elections (does it mean that there wont be any traffic policemen in junctions too?). But he reckoned without Lalit Modi, who whatever his fault may be, can think quick on his feet. He showed dextirity by rescheduling IPL matches. Now Home Ministry was in a soup. But since they are obeying orders from the top, they had no choice other than to go through the charade of blocking IPL come what may. They called for feedbacks from all State Governments. Congress ensured that wherever it is ruling, the concerned Government wont give the green signal. So Rajastan, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh all said No. Lalit Modi said fine, but I will go to those States who are ready to accept IPL. And there it stands.
This is a classic case of how State power is being misused for partisan ends.
