It was most surprising to read the editorial “Chauvinism at its worst,” (March 27). When entire India is continuing to discriminate against Pakistani players for no fault of theirs, why blame Tamil Nadu alone for saying it will permit IPL matches to be held in Chennai only if Sri Lankan players do not participate in them? How can a family be united if one member does not feel the anguish of another? How can India treat Sri Lanka as a “friendly” country when hundreds of Indian fishermen are wantonly killed by that country?
T. Nandakumar,
Bangalore
The media is near-unanimous in accusing the Tamil Nadu government of raking up the Sri Lankan issue nearly four years after its army committed atrocities against the Tamils there. The charge that the government wants to exploit the matter for electoral gains is baseless. The issue was always a part of Tamil Nadu politics. But the recent disclosure of 12-year-old Balachandran’s killing by the Sri Lankan army has touched the collective conscience of the people. The Tamil Nadu government is justified in saying Sri Lankan cricketers should not participate in the IPL matches in Chennai.
V. Rajalakshmi,
Mumbai
India was among the first to stop playing cricket with South Africa under the apartheid regime. The country, particularly Tamil Nadu, is facing a huge refugee influx from Sri Lanka. It is fully justified in intervening for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils. The Centre’s vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and the Tamil Nadu government’s decision of not allowing Sri Lankan cricketers to play in Chennai should be seen as a move to bring pressure on Colombo to resettle the Tamils living there.
S. Gajenthira Siva,
Pollachi
By ensuring that the Sri Lankan players do not play the IPL in Chennai, we have once again proved that we are always driven by passion, not reason. The action reinforces the saying that politics is never about right decisions — it is about multiple sensitivities.
M.K. Shanmugam,
Tiruchi
