Dark Clouds over Major Events in India

Concern of security is affecting sports events on regularly basis. Thanks to Indian Government for their efforts to alleviate the fears which have increased since IPL committee decided to host the event in South Africa as we didn't have enough police/army/nsg/crpf to give the security cover. Country with 3/4th largest army and big police force can't provide security cover to common people, that is for politicans only. 

GOI expected that BCCI will postpone the event but Modi was able to do a turnaround and get the event hosted in SA which will benifit hugely with the coming event.

But that decision as I also wrote earlier has put India-Pakistan-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka at same platform in terms of security concerns. Events are getting affected or main players are not turning up due to fear factor.

• Players from the European Nations particularly from the Badminton powerhouse countries like England,Denmark pulled out from the India Open Badminton (Hyderabad 2009) due to security concerns. Hyderabad is due to host world badminton championship in August this year
  
• ASIAN billiards is also hit by fears, players from countries Pakistan, Malaysia, South Korea and Iraq have pulled out from asian billiards and asian u-21 snooker championship.
• Davis Cup tie against Australia is already under threat after Lleyton Hewitt  raised concerns of having event in India during elections timings. 

I feel its not the terrorists who have held the common public to ransom its the politicans and elections which have held us to ransom. You have to vote its a biggest democratic exercise of the world with 700 million voting. 

Democracy is government for the people and by the people so the biggest elections are putting my National Pride at stake Why ?? . Image of my India is taking a beating. 

I guess the time has come to think What we have done for the country not What the politicians have done and are doing. 

Time for young guns to come over not those who spread communal voilence ...... 

IPL 2 : After Lahore Attacks :: Going Outside India ?

Attacks on Sri Lanakan cricketers have put clouds on IPL 2009. Investigations are going on in Lahore attacks, Umpires and Refree have questioned the security being provided to them. Chris Broad has said that they were left stranded when attacks we on. I saw CCTV footages on Indian News channels and was shocked to see how freely terrorists were moving towards their destination  without being stopped.  

Pakistan was quick to put blame on foreign hand as they always do. But these attacks has put doubts on the minds of players regarding playing in subcontinent. Some players have come out and said that they would not let terrorism win and they will play.

But there is a bigger problem Indian politicians and Government Of India. Respectable home minster raised the doubt by saying that he wants the event to be shifted after the elections. Other minsters and state governments came out and said , it would not be possible to provide safety cover during the elections. 

It came as a shocker to me , country of one billion plus don't have enough security personals to handle events during elections time. No this is not the reason actual reason which is bothering in the minds of our respectable politicians is that of limelite. 

During the IPL 2009 politicians feel that actual show will be carried out by cricketers not the the candidates.  So this might the fear in their minds. But these people dont understand that by questioning the security cover they are putting the long term perspective of India as a sports destination as a tourist destination in doubt.

When a country government says that they cant provide the security cover, what would anyone can expect from foreign country, will they send their players, tourists in the subcontinent? No

Think please politicians think for India atleast.  Why would they think as they need Z,Z+ etc covers?

IPL 2009 dates can be rescheduled as they are being done, but postponing is out of question. Matches can be held in catchment areas. If still Indian government and state government dont angry then Lalit Modi has rightly said that he will shift the IPL 2009 outside India to UAE or UK.

If IPL is cancelled or postponed or shifted outside, it will be a huge loss for the Indians. Around 1000 crores are at stake in the second season. 

Time is for us to put brave front and say we can host it and provide adequate security cover to Indians and Foreign Players both. 

What do you feel friends :-)