By IANS,
New Delhi : A crucial meeting between Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers and Home Ministry officials Monday turned out to be inconclusive as the central government once again raised concerns over providing security for players, spectators and venues during the tournament.
A three-member IPL delegation led by N. Srinivasan, who is also the Indian cricket board secretary, met the Home Ministry’s Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raman Srivastav here, to discuss security cover for the tourney. The original IPL schedule clashes with the coming general elections, when security forces are fully stretched anyway.
The ministry asked IPL organisers to work out yet another schedule and get an assurance from the various state governments to pledge security for cricketers and match venues. This is the third meeting between the two sides.
“The Home Ministry has expressed its concern (of providing security for IPL matches during elections). We have also expressed our concern and the problems of all the stakeholders,” Srinivasan told reporters here after the meeting.
On earlier occasions the Home Ministry has made it clear the central paramilitary forces would not be available for the tournament as over 2.1 million security troops would be drafted for general elections.