Interpreting the IPL shift
by Anshuman Goenka
The Indian Premier League will be moved out of India. Evidently, its promoters which included high-profile businessmen & politicians have ceded ground to the concerns of the Home Ministry. In the news bulletins last evening and this morning, this has been the second item - after obviously the juicier news about the EC writing to the BJP about one of its candidates.
The one sporting event which, largely, the nation enjoyed will now be held in a time zone where the IPL viewership will not be as high as it would be if the tournament was in India. This obviously means that the team franchises stand to lose. Now, the IPL team franchises are owned by wealthy people, but it was conspicuous that this morning, we read at least two of them defending this decision.
So, what does one make of this drama? We have finally admitted that as a country we will not be able to manage both the election and the tournament together. I agree with the priority accorded to the election over the tournament but find it unfortunate that we have to admit lapses in our security. Were something untoward to happen in the middle of the tournament, obviously the cost would be serious. But, think what this means for our image before the world, and before our own eyes!
More importantly, do not miss the real reason why the IPL has to be shifted: political one-upmanship between one who wants to promote the IPL (and whose state representatives offered security) and another who is acting on the behest of yet another, who in turn feels threatened by the high visibility that the IPL would provide. Does either think that one cannot see through this?
Comments
23 Responses to “Interpreting the IPL shift”
Is this a real and ONLY reason to shift IPL to abraod?
It’s a big loss for our country. IPL is just not the game of cricket it is very good source of income for India & we lost it when there is recession all over the world.
Being a responsible citizen of the biggest democracy of this globe , which claims to be the 7th most powerful army , and the second biggest populated country , i feel ashamed that we could not manage an event of national spirit in our home country , what is this , i cannot withstand with something like this , the national leaders are doing nothing but just bringing us shame continuously , the best Brains of the nation (as they claim them selves ) like Manmohan Singh , Montek Singh Ahluwalia , P.Chidambaram , and many more, this is amazingly shameful about what they are doing for this nation , if would start talking about what all they are doing for this nation , it would take at least week of continuous speaking and the saga will still continue. Pakistan which is not even equal to Uttar Pradesh in area and population threatens us every now and then , November 26th 2008 another black mark Indian history , is not resolved . we have our forces in Kashmir since ages , and still they don’t know what to do about it , i can see the future that some day Just like Afghanistan , India would be raided by some western forces and we wont be able to say any thing . India keeps shouting In front of America about this , Mr Pranab Mukherjee , our esteemed Defense Minister , talked to almost every powerful person in this regard to do something about this attack on Indian Innocence , however i am sorry to say , i am only 26 yrs of age but i think when there is any problem at my home , we try to solve it on or own , rather going to ask for help from distant relatives , or neighbors, we do go to police at times , but police has a duty to save and help us as they are appointed for the same , but why do our leaders think that America is the Police , or a judiciary body who would take any action , are we idiots , or morons , i agree that we need to see so many things before saying any thing , but look at Pakistan , which is much smaller in size and still never hesitate to do any thing wrong , or unethical , but our esteemed leaders keep on thinking before doing even the right thing.
I still remember the week Government of Congress , which in 2008 tried to do a rally in Lucknow , but Mayawati never let them do it , the most powerful Lady of the Nation in the current scenario , Ms.Sonia Gandhi , was struggling for a chance to meet masses in lucknow , what should i call this , Protocol Malfunction or Poor Leadership . I love the way Sri Narendra Modi dealt with the situation in Gujarat , the way he reacts at the situation , is amazingly incredible , i appreciate the instinct of Sri. Advani , as i look up to him just like i look at Sardar Patel , the Iron man of India .
the current Government has the best economist , then i have one single question , why in spite of reducing the taxes , and RR rate , and many duties from the market , the market is still crashing , why everywhere people are loosing there jobs , why onion is still Rs.22 per Kg. we still have foreign reserves of more than $400Bn , still we are nothing but falling economy , so close to deflation and then depression . why there no body to look after the basic day to day needs of a common person , the reality is that the Gold which we gave to America IN early 90’s during the time of Mr. Narsimha Rao , would never come back to us , and till the time we do not have it , we have nothing , if today we go to America and ask for the Gold worth the foreign reserves that we have , we would never get it back.
India needs the leaders with the likes Sri Advani , Sri Modi , even i am the one in the Que , i aspire to be a part of the future Government , but till where i know it takes a lot of money to serve the nation , so i dnt have any money right now with me and unfortunately no Indian Bank gives Loans for this purpose although every one knows the earning capacity of a political leader , (lol), i believe i am not that fortunate like Obama , who came from no where and influenced whole America , but one thing more i know , i ll still make it some day , currently i have lost my Job but some day , i ll get a new job then i ll save the money , and from that money someday i am gonna contest in election and would like to correct the nation . Jai Hind.
i have just seen Mr. P. Chidambram commenting on Narendra bhai’s comment that it’s unfortunate that ipl is not happening here in india. Mr. P. Chidambrum had said “Gujrat riots were unfortunate” but Mr. Chidambram didn’t give any of his wise comments on how were 84’s riots.
Friends,
What Terrorists could achieve in Pakistan by not allowing cricket to be played in Pakistan , the UPA has achieved that in India. It’s national shame UPA surrendered to terrorists.
Regards
The decision to shift IPL out of India is GREAT and very Significant one, as this is a clear sign of India’s Resurgence. IPL is very important to create a Global Image of our India, Just like NBA and NASCAR is for USA. Cricket sells in India like no other, so it was brilliant of BCCI to bring this tournament up. The immediate result is the fantastic performance of Team India here and over seas and this can be attributed to the IPL. The fearless attitude and the urge to win.
We are good in only few games and sports, but none is as big and important as cricket to us Indians, I am saying this inspite of coming from a different Sport background, which like most games and sports is suffering from attention and funding. This apart it is very important to capitalize on the immense popularity of cricket and develop a Global Image for India.
The Govt has completely neglected the economic impact of not being able to hold this tournament. At this time of recession, this was a great chance get a boost from this, no matter what the proportion would be, saying this, IPL is nothing short of a stimulus package.
This is just one more national blunder made by a government which lacks pride like the desert sand lacks water.
My congratulations to BCCI, Lalit Modi and all the associates of IPL for taking this SIGNIFICANT decision to shift it to a favourable location and run the Indian premier League for the Indian and world audience.
It is the Enterprising attitude and acts of Bravery by Organizations and Individuals that makes a Nation great, not cowardness and lack of sight, which is a trade mark of a party which has ruined this country for as long as it has ruled.
This has inspired me and I am sure a lot many like minded people who want to see the Resurgence of India and Indians Globally..
I belive this is one issue that BJP can gain from if marketed and projected well. Cricket is big for urban youth and connects very well with a majority of our populace, and Cricket diretly relates to national pride.
Projecting IPL moving out of India to be Synonymous to India accepting that we are an unsafe country and cannot prevent terrorist strikes inspite of teh best possible security will be a key.
I think IPL shouldnt be held outside india because it will make india a inscure country like pakistan in the point of view of the peaple of the other country so it is very unfortunate and very bad decision.
I think our goverment should provide better scurity becoz they can do that.
Hi All,
It is evident that, congress is fearing another terrorist attack and if that happens, its really going to loose this election, that it doesn’t want to happen, so IPL moved out of India & “Kongress” didn’t do any thing for that.
By the way, it is evident from IPL group as well that, they doesn’t care at all for the Elections (which is a decisive thing for future of the country ahead), they just want to earn their money nothing else. They should have extended the date by respecting India and did it after the elections.
It’s a big loss for our country. IPL is just not the game of cricket it is very good source of income for India & we lost it when there is recession all over the world.
For BJP Election 2009-IPL Shift - Engaging the other sportperson and asking yhem to air their views on possible threat to Commonwealth Games .
This will create a awareness in sporting community.
And the media has already started the work of Hitting the BJP on this issue ….
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-embarrassed-guj-cm-top-cop-disagree-over-ipl/88435-3.html
the ruling UPA is not even being questioned by the Media on this issue, instead comments from sharukh and preety zinta are more prominent. BJP has a tough road ahead first fighting its political opposition and then fighting against this shamelessly biased Media reporting
dear friends ,
to day we are shifting IPL.for safty reasons what will happance if industrialists and FII’s leave india ? how can we steanthen the faith in tourists tha india is safe .
humne ek nikkame home minister ko kursi chodne par mazboor kar diya tha
ab election men dusre ki baari hai, ese bhi nikal do.
and as expected the cnn ibm story ( http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-embarrassed-guj-cm-top-cop-disagree-over-ipl/88435-3.html ) turns out to be baseless ,false and with ulterior motives , heres a more factual news item -
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/cm-accuses-centre-of-compromising-with-countrys-prestige-on-ipl/437681/
I do not know where to high light this… but do any of the BJP friends know what Rahul Gandhi was doing just after mumbai attacks happened? He was partying hard at a sangeet… Even a common man would think twice before doing such thing let alone a public figure like him…
It is interesting this story never got cover page … it was there in toi for some time and then when you search the archive of toi you do not find it… this never got reported in ndtv.com or ibn etc english speaking media… do we want to give India in hands of such kind of people… orginal story…
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21442§ionid=4&issueid=82&Itemid=1
if you can put this as one of the issue or way to communicate to other people, then it would be really helpful…
Dear Friends,
Actually speaking the IPL should not have moved out. But lets face it. Our governmaent has made India a soft target for terror strikes.With this move they have acknowledged it.
i mean wht is this happning in our country, we are the second largest population in world , with such a stronge arm force, we cant even host a domestic cricket tournament. This is redicules absolute shame the people enjoys the highest position in our country should take the responsibility u cant just say for the security reason u are unable to host game in our country. I do understand that the Electrol process of the country is the most important but u cant runaway from your responsibility.
I think its not right to blame ruling Govt alone because we are equally responcible for what is happning, Because we are the one who appointed the so called secularist. But the time has come to change the things i sware i will try my best atleaset where i am residing that such people should never come in the power again.
Shift if IPL is a desicion based on economics of BCCI rather that anything else. BCCI could not find any dates with ICC for holding the tournament.
My compatriots dont get carried away. IPL in its true sense was not a domestic tournament, because it always had international players.
Second Elections are more important than Cricket tournament. so we dont care much.
There is indesicion in govts act on IPL (as usual), there is haste in BCCI s desicion, only we in india loose to see live action.
We as a nation feels humiliated, since we will be seen as not able to provide security for a cricket tournament! (I belive we are not so bad!)
But as Indians, our love for cricket comes secondary to our love for India.. so lets vote first..
But still a doubt persists: will they still call it Indian premier league? perhaps ‘International Premier League’ will be a better option.
perhaps we should move the congress out too
TO THE BJP’S TOP MANAGEMENT….DEVELOP YOUR OWN MEDIA POWER SOON OR THE BJP HAS NO FUTURE….SERIOUSLY!!!!
I am a sincere sympathizer of the BJP, hence this negative tone in my comments. And I am sorry but there is no other way to digest this bitter pill.
BJP’s media management team should either be fired or revamped immediately. In all these years, the party has yet to start or develop a high-reach and influential pro-BJP television channel or newspaper (except the tiny Daily Pioneer) among other media vehicles, whether it’s in India or outside.
I myself have tried to get in touch with BJP’s media cell a few times on my various trips to India within the past three years, but with no success. The few individuals that I did manage to speak to came across as typical Indian government employees; IGNORANT, UNCONCERNED and UNRESPONSIVE.
The party management obviously doesn’t seem to understand the importance of media, communications and networking for political and national success.
Are the folks running the media cell friends of the BJP? I believe that this is a very serious issue that has cost the BJP many national and state elections so far. It’s image within India and outside has taken a beating time and again inspite of it’s good intentions.
TO THE BJP….Firstly, please develop or redevelop a proper think-tank before it’s too late. And when I say THINK-TANK, I mean a PROPER THINK-TANK, not an apology for a think-tank.
Secondly, please CHANNELIZE all this pro-BJP energy coming in from various quarters systematically and sensibly; else, this ENTIRE “Friends of BJP” exercise will be in vain and become the butt of jokes in the media like “India Shining” did. I personally believe in the sincerity and potential of “Friends of BJP”, and hence would not want this to happen. Also because failure is not an option.
THE BOTTOMLINE SUGGESTION WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPING CLOUT WITHIN THE MEDIA — “KARO YA MARO”. AND IT’S NOW OR NEVER.
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
had posted the response on the same line 10 days back and it ha come true now
Now guys, this is shame, IPL being shiftd out of india, and u politicise the issue . . .God, i hail from gujarat, and i appreciate the development Modi has brought to gujarat..but people think broadly, godhra aftermath were due to his blessings. .He is just a good spokesman, just claimin that gujarat can provide security is just a show off, when it wud have really come he wud have surely backed off, the Guj DGP in his letter to the ministry of state, ruled out the possibility of providing security in gujarat to IPL.
IPL has been shifted out and its for the betterment, for the sake and security of the players, the emotional attachement of us indians to the game, we wuldnt like to see our players play under the threat of their lives??? Modern day Terrorism is something that cannot be predicted, so its to be proactive than be reactive in our actions . .
I hail the decision taken to shift IPL outside of india . .Cheers Lalit Modi . .
I would like to state here that IPL is a purely businesses matters of few richies. Not many are interested in the Tamasha as it is known. shifting non shifting has been dictated by the one upmanship of Shard Pawar and Chidambaran.Pawar lost out because he went and met Balashaeb so It has that political undercurrent to it nothing else.
Thank god the villagers are not at all effcted by this .