In an indirect dig at Pakistan, where visiting Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by gunmen, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday that no cricketer should worry about security while playing in India as the sport is "completely safe" in the country.
" Nobody needs to worry about safety while playing cricket in India, I want cricket to be played in India," he said.
"Cricket in India is completely safe but the IPL and election schedules are overlapping and rescheduling seems unavoidable. I must know whether I have enough paramilitary forces to provide security to the IPL," he added.
"I did not blame IPL because when they announced their schedule they were unaware of the elections schedule. I did not say IPL matches should be postponed. We will try to help IPL hold matches as per schedule. However, rescheduling of matches is required from security point of view," he said.
Chidambaram was at Hyderabad to review the security set up put in place by the government of Andhra Pradesh ahead of General Elections and the proposed IPL matches.
He called for urgent improvement in the urban policing and efficient monitoring of the coastal areas surrounding the state.
{{/usCountry}}He called for urgent improvement in the urban policing and efficient monitoring of the coastal areas surrounding the state.
{{/usCountry}}While calling for a better co-ordination among various security agencies and local police, the Minister promised that the recruitment of policemen for further strengthening the security set up will be completed in the stipulated time.