Dubbing the IPL scandal as a “national shame”, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday demanded an explanation from the government and the Congress and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the affairs of the cricket league.
At a press conference here, Mr. Naidu alleged that the Government was reduced to a spectator in the whole affair as it was caught on the defensive even as the IPL has become a “big farce“.
“Why are the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister silent on the issue when the whole nation is anxious to know the facts related to the entire IPL scandal? Where has the money into the IPL come from and where did the money from betting and match-fixing go?” he asked, adding the Centre should conduct a thorough investigation and put the facts before the country.
“Some Union ministers, their kin and some Congress bigwigs are said to be involved in the whole issue. There is also huge money, women and glamour involved. Such a massive scandal broke out only due to the inefficiency of the Congress,” the TDP chief alleged.
Mr. Chandrababu also referred to allegations that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim had put in his money in the IPL while most of the funds had flown in from Mauritius and other tax havens.
Replying to a question, he said Union ministers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel should step down from their posts voluntarily since they have come under a cloud over their involvement in the IPL scandal too.
Mr. Chandrababu said there was no loss even if the IPL’s final match was cancelled till the probe was completed.
“Since there are widespread allegations that all the IPL matches are fixed, the Government of India can use its extraordinary powers and get the final match countermanded,” he added.
