Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA-----It is wrong to say that Himachal Pradesh is reluctant to host Indian Premium league (IPL) matches in Dharamsala as being blamed by HPCA, said Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in a statement issued here today. He said that the HPCA was blaming the State Government for its failure to host IPL on pretext of insufficient security in the State, whereas the fact was that the State Governmnet gave proposal to hold matches between 10th to 14th May and thereafter 17th May this year after the general elections to Lok Sabha.
He said that it was wrong to say that on the alleged security reasons the State Government was unwilling to host the IPL game. A letter was sent to SP Kangra to explore possibilities regarding security arrangements for hosting the cricket game and the issue was very much in consideration of the Government said the minister.
Rather it was lacklustre approach of Anurag Thakur who was contesting Lok Sabha election himself from Hamirpur assembly segment and is also Joint Secretary of BCCI and President of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. On one hand Government was serious to host IPL matches and on the other Anurag Thakur misguided BCCI that Himachal Government was not able to provide the required security, asserted the minister.
The State Government had given the proposal of hosting the matches between 10th and 14th May, 2014 and thereby after 17thMay due to the General Elections and counting of Votes in Himachal on 7th May. He said the exact dates could not be committed due to the very reason but that does not mean that the State Government was playing politics of sorts.
The Government is committed to promote the Game of cricket in big way and rather systematically. The HPCA first of all razed the residential quarters meant for teaching faculty to illegally occupy the land for construction of the pavilion and secondly non of the renowned cricketers of the State was made even a member of the governing council of the cricket body of the state.
The last phase of the Lok Sabbha elections was to end on 12th May and the HP Police forces would be back by that time, was conveyed to the HPCA, said the minister and they should plan the matches accordingly but instead they were blaming for their failure on the State Government which was totally wrong. It was also incorrect to claim by HPCA that maximum matches were being hosted by neighbouring state, as there were only two matches of kings eleven being played in PCA Stadium Mohali.
The minister said that though the Jawans of Himachal Pradesh Police have also been deployed Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and other States as well, but still the government was considering the proposal on above dates and had told HPCA body about the same.
Refuting the baseless allegation of HPCA the minister said that it was the lacklustre approach of HPCA and of its president who himself is contesting the election and not interested in sparing his time for the same.
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**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
Contact Number is 09736276343Mobile
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