TN parties oppose IPL matches in Chennai over Cauvery issue

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have opposed the Indian Premier League cricket matches in Chennai, saying the organisers should consider the plight of farmers and protests over the Centre’s delay in constituting a board to resolve the decades-old Cauvery water-sharing dispute with the state’s neighbour.

The city will be hosting IPL matches after two years, with home side Chennai Super Kings pitted against Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chepauk on April 10. Seven IPL matches are scheduled to be held in the Tamil Nadu capital between April 10 and May 20.

The enthusiasm over the domestic T-20 league is high as about 10,000 fans crowded Chepauk on Friday to watch home team captain MS Dhoni and his men train for their game on April 10.

But protests over the delay in forming a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) could water down the excitement. Opposition DMK working president MK Stalin asked the IPL organisers to take an “appropriate decision” after considering the plight of the farmers in Tamil Nadu and how the Union government “was playing politics over Cauvery”.

“We are not against IPL matches, but the organisers should understand the problems of the people and act accordingly,” Stalin clarified and said more opposition parties also against the game in such a scenario.

Rebel AIADMK faction leader TTV Dhinakaran was more straightforward in his remarks as he appealed to the people to boycott IPL matches in Chennai to put pressure on the Union government to consitutute teh Cauvery board. “It is clear that the BJP government was disregarding the plight of Tamil Nadu,” Dhinakaran said appealing to the people who booked seats for IPL matches to return their tickets in support of the striking farmers.

According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official, who doesn’t want to be named, there is no change in the IPL schedule.

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