Stating that the Samajwadi Party was against preventing sportsmen from other countries from playing in India, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday said “patience and tolerance” was needed to “think what message is going out”. “Even though we (Samajwadi Party) has never been in favour of cricket but it should not happen that you dig the pitch. A debate can be held on another platform but disallowing sportsmen of other countries to play here is not fair,” Akhilesh said. His comments came against the backdrop of Shiv Sena workers storming the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai Monday forcing cancellation of scheduled talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan over resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties. [related-post] Shiv Sena, which has threatened to prevent Pakistani cricketers from playing in India, had in the past dug the pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi and at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. “Aisi ghatna karne walon ki ninda honi chahiye, jitni ninda ho kam hai (Those involved in such incidents should be condemned, and whatever extent of condemnation, it is not enough). Who will be responsible if any untoward incident happens with our players when they go to other countries? Our society shall have to take decisions with patience and tolerance about what is happening and what message is going out,” he said. Akhilesh said the political parties and people should have to understand that “when markets of world have become one, no news, photo, incident and information can be stopped. The world can see it. The scenario was different some years back”. “An attempt should be made to ensure that no adverse message goes out,” he added. In an apparent attack at BJP and its allies, Akhilesh said all the chief ministers are trying to get investment for their respective state but asked what “kind of atmosphere” was being created. “There is Samajwadi party government in UP. Suppose an investor comes and someone blacken his face.You sent back an investor. What atmosphere are you creating?” Stating that “there is no debate on increasing investment and unemployment,” Akhilesh attacked the central government for “failing to control inflation”. “The Centre is responsible for the price rise. It should come forward to curb it. During elections, they (BJP) had promised a formula for curbing price rise. Now the time has come when they should apply their formula. If they have formula, the Samajwadi Party is ready to help them. But what is their formula?” he said. The chief minister explained the efforts undertaken by his government in the state. “In UP, we have worked on strengthening infrastructure of ‘mandi’ (markets) and increase production of potatoes and milk. We will devise ways to increase production of pulses too. We have increased number of cows and buffaloes. But when we talk of cow, they (BJP) take the discussion to a whole another angle,” he said. (With PTI inputs)
