Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Amidst a chorus in the Rajya Sabha demanding a CBI probe into the IPL controversy and even scrapping of the tournament,Sports and Youth Minister M S Gill said the IPL was very much on the public radar and the government was watching very carefully. However,the ministrys control and role was limited to the BCCI,Gill said,adding that there was a demand that it was time the BCCI answered to India.
Replying to a debate,Gill said that over the past 10-15 years,the BCCI had suddenly got very rich and the ministry had been very passive throughout this period. In the passivity of the ministry,they have implicitly taken over all that is related to cricket, he said,adding that there was a conflict of interest with the BCCI playing regulator,rule-maker and also owner at times. He said it was well known that prominent people in the BCCI are also owners of teams. Agreeing with Rajya Sabha members,he said there was no case for tax exemption to the BCCI.
Gill said his ministry will consider drafting regulations for all sports in general and such a suggestion had come from Cabinet ministers even before the IPL controversy broke out. The minister said that clear,transparent electoral rolls,an independent returning officer,and a secret ballot could ensure that no one holds on to a sports body too long.
Gill raised concerns about the security requirements pertaining to the IPl. Referring to the low intensity bomb blasts outside the Bangalore IPL venue,he said with the police manning these stadia for hours together,there were valid security concerns. He suggested that like in the UK,those availing security for commercial gains should be made to pay for it. Gill was of the view that drinking should not be permitted at the stadia and drinks and sports did not go together all IPL matches have been followed by parties through the night.
Congresss Jayanthi Natarajan said the IPL had led to crony capitalism and worst corporate governance.
BJPs Prakash Javdekar said it must be probed who all have invested money in the IPL and from where has this money come. Raising the issue of how Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel could turn valuation consultant for the IPL and share the information with Shashi Tharoor,Javdekar said names of all those with any stake in the IPl must be made public. The BJP has said that IPL profits should be taxed,especially in Maharashtra,where most of the matches were held,as the state is reeling under debt.
SPs Kamal Akhtar said the controversy has led to suspicions that the matches are fixed.
TDPs Mysura Reddy raised concerns about the nexus of businessmen and politicians in the IPL and suggested that a comprehensive set of regulations on the lines of Cricket Australia need to be brought in to allow a measure of autonomy albeit with government controls.
