Shimla: The suspense over the Indo-Pak World twenty20 match at Dharmashala, scheduled to be held on March 19, isn’t over yet as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh has made clear that police will remain inactive if ex-servicemen protest against the match.
Virbhadra Singh, talking to media on T-20 Cricket Match today, said that it was up to the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) whether to hold the match in the State with Pakistan or not.
The Chief Minister said the State had enough security forces to maintain law and order, but the fact was that the security forces would not resort to Lathi charge or tear gas shells on the agitating protestors or relatives of the martyrs and ex-servicemen.
Veteran leader said the sentiments of the martyrs were to be respected at all costs.
Being questioned on the allegation by Secretary BCCI, Anurag Thakur about the dilly-dallying tactics and unclear stand of the State government on the Match, the Chief Minister said that he was not answerable to Anurag but to kin of the martyrs.
The Chief Minister said that his stand on the match had been the same amidst the rising controversy and he always reiterated that force won’t be used against the agitators.
BCCI secretary and HPCA president Anurag Thakur blamed the Chief Minister for creating an atmosphere of doubt over the India-Pakistan match. Thakur said
“After the directive of the court, the CM saying that atmosphere is not good (in the state), raises a question mark. When you say the match can’t take place nine days before the tournament, I don’t think any CM of other states would make a statement like that,”
Amidst the reluctance to host the match from the state, Pakistan had sent a three member team to assess the security at the venue. And in its report the team has suggested to change the venue for the match.
