“Let us not play with fire,” remarked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M Karunanidhi in Chennai late this evening, politely turning down the Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram’s suggestion that it was for the respective State Director Generals of Police (DGP) to give security clearance to individual ‘IPL League’ cricket matches scheduled in various States.
“It is better to put on hold these cricket matches than to regret later even if there is one untoward incident,” Mr Karunanidhi told reporters here at his Gopalapuram residence where he is recuperating after a spinal surgery.
The Home Minister has placed the onus of security clearance on the State DGPs’, but “in my opinion, it is better not to play with fire when not just the States, but the entire country faces a security threat (from terrorists),” Karunanidhi, who is also in charge of Home and Police, said.
“When world-class players come here, it is not just their security which is at risk, but that of the entire cricket-watching public and we cannot take any chances with their safety under the present circumstances,” the Chief Minister said.
Since the Parliament elections are scheduled in between, “no loss will be incurred if the IPL matches scheduled in different parts of the country are postponed by a month,” Mr Karunanidhi said, indicating that the safe conduct of the polls should be the paramount concern now.
{{/usCountry}}Since the Parliament elections are scheduled in between, “no loss will be incurred if the IPL matches scheduled in different parts of the country are postponed by a month,” Mr Karunanidhi said, indicating that the safe conduct of the polls should be the paramount concern now.
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