“Don’t shift IPL matches out of A.P.”

Congress Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh V. Hanumantha Rao has urged Union Minister and BCCI Chairman Sharad Pawar to use his good offices to persuade the Indian Premier League (IPL) council to re-include Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam as match venues.

“I strongly feel that the shifting of venues is an insult to both Andhra and Telangana regions and their people. This hasty decision of IPL will severely erode Andhra Pradesh’s image and send wrong signals to investors across the world,” Mr. Rao said in a letter to Mr. Pawar.

Shiv Sena’s threats

He referred to the Shiv Sena’s threat to Australian players that they would not be allowed to play IPL matches in Maharashtra and organisers’ decision to go ahead with the matches following assurances on security given by the Chief Minister and the Home Minister.

Likewise, in Andhra Pradesh also, the Chief Minister and the Sports Minister gave an assurance that there would be no problem in hosting the matches though the Telangana agitation was going on. Even the Telangana leaders agreed to allow the matches to be played in Hyderabad.

Despite this the inaugural function and matches had been shifted. “Why this discrimination? Why the IPL is not following the principle in Andhra Pradesh that was applicable to Maharashtra?” Mr. Rao asked.