With just two more days to go for the Indian Premier League 2018 to begin, political groups and cinema artistes in Tamil Nadu have demanded that matches should not be played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium or Chepauk Stadium in Chennai as a mark of protest against the Centre for not setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10 in their home ground. It is a big match for the Chennai outfit, which is returning to the tournament after a hiatus of two years after serving a ban for betting activities of its officials.
Tamil parties and other fringe groups in the state, including Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) led by former MLA Panrutti Velmurugan, Viduthalai Thamizh Puligal Katchi, Thamizhar Vidiyal Katchi and Social Democratic Party of India have called for a ban on IPL matches in Chennai.
“Cauvery is an emotional issue. We are against IPL matches. Given the tense moments here, the matches should not happen in Chennai. Let it be shifted to any other state,” says Thirumurugan Gandhi of the May 17 movement.
“The Centre has no regard for the livelihood of the people of Tamil Nadu. They want to erase the identity of the Tamils. Cauvery is our livelihood. The Centre has betrayed us. IPL should not take place here, when there is so much anger against the Centre for not constituting the CMB. If the BCCI conducts the IPL here, and the Tamil Nadu government and the Tamil Nadu police support it, then all those who eat the food produced by farmers will buy tickets to go into the stadium. By getting into the stadium we will protest in a democratic way,” says Velmurugan.
The protests against the Union government for not setting up the CMB have intensified in Tamil Nadu over the past one week, since the expiry of the six-week deadline set by the Supreme Court.
It all began when popular Tamil host and music composer James Vasanthan put out a blog urging people to boycott IPL matches in Chennai to draw the attention of the world to the Cauvery issue. Director Bharathiraja, too, joined in saying “if IPL matches happen in Chennai, it will turn into a jallikattu”.
The state government has provided security to the stadium as per protocol. The security arrangements are expected to be stepped up a day or two before the match. The BCCI is yet to react to the boycott calls. Sources say the match will be played despite all opposition.