Time not right for IPL in Chennai, says Rajini
STAR SPEAK Joins hands with Kamal Haasan to demand Cauvery Management Board CHENNAI:Tamil
film actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan joined protests in Chennai on Sunday against the Centre’s failure to set up the Cauvery Management Board, and also called for boycotting the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Setting aside differences, the two veteran actors joined other stars for a demonstration at Valluvarkottam in central Chennai.
Like opposition parties and the ruling AIADMK, both the superstars expressed their ire over the conduct of IPL at a time when the state’s farmers were starving and facing rising debts.
“It will be nice if IPL is not played this time in Chennai understanding the plight of the farmers due to severe shortage of water,” Rajinikanth said, adding that if it is not possible to withdraw at this stage, then the players should wear black badges to highlight the plight of the farmers of the state.
“The CSK franchise should think over the issue and appreciate the fact that the time is not ripe for IPL in Chennai,” he said.
Kamal Haasan too had opposed holding of IPL earlier.
The call comes in the wake of Chennai Super Kings’s (CSK) comeback to IPL after a two-year ban, winning the first match against Mumbai Indians on Saturday night.
Before starting for the protest venue, Rajinikanth told media persons that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must step in and set up the river management board without any further delay in the interests of small and marginal farmers of Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.
This is the first time that Rajinikanth has spoken out on the issue.
KERALA MAY GET SOME IPL MATCHES
With the row hotting up, a few IPL matches of the present season, which got underway on Saturday, might be held in Kerala. The matches that could be held in Kerala include those involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) — to be held in Chennai and Bengaluru. Kerala Cricket Association Jayesh George told the media on Sunday that talks for these changes have already begun. IANS
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