Congress, BJP unite on SRK-MCA row
20 May 2012 5:41 AM GMT
Besides keeping the cricket circle on its toes, Wankhede Stadium turmoil has also started generating heat in the political circles. The Shah Rukh Khan and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) controversy has created a serious difference of opinion within the Congress. Rajiv Shukla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, who is also the chairman of Indian Premier League, took Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Science and Technology Minister and president of MCA, head on regarding this.
Interestingly, sources in the primary opposition party have also revealed that they were not in favour of the ban on Khan.
Some of the senior members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are also gradually getting united against MCA's decision and are considering of not holding any IPL matches in the Wankhede Stadium in the future, if the ban on Khan is not removed. Apparently, BCCI already has two alternative sites in mind for future IPL matches - stadiums in Nagpur or Ahmedabad.
While reacting to the ban on Khan, Shukla asserted that the final power rests with BCCI.
'State bodies can only recommend. A final decision has to be taken by the BCCI,' he said. While Deshmukh, when asked how MCA would react if BCCI would ask them to re-invoke the ban, said, 'Where is the question of [BCCI questioning] the validity [of MCA decision]? ... BCCI is our parent body. It has its own set of rules. IPL is their brainchild... their baby. We have merely rented out our ground to them.'
The situation has already taken a political colour when Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee officially came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan on Friday. West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee clearly batted for Khan as she described the incident as a 'small one'. Banerjee added, 'The incident is being blown out of proportion. I have heard that Shah Rukh’s daughter and a few other children were with him. The security guards had ill-treated and even manhandled some of the children to which he protested.'
Wankhede Stadium controversy is sure to provide fodder for the politicians in the days to come.
Interestingly, sources in the primary opposition party have also revealed that they were not in favour of the ban on Khan.
Some of the senior members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are also gradually getting united against MCA's decision and are considering of not holding any IPL matches in the Wankhede Stadium in the future, if the ban on Khan is not removed. Apparently, BCCI already has two alternative sites in mind for future IPL matches - stadiums in Nagpur or Ahmedabad.
While reacting to the ban on Khan, Shukla asserted that the final power rests with BCCI.
'State bodies can only recommend. A final decision has to be taken by the BCCI,' he said. While Deshmukh, when asked how MCA would react if BCCI would ask them to re-invoke the ban, said, 'Where is the question of [BCCI questioning] the validity [of MCA decision]? ... BCCI is our parent body. It has its own set of rules. IPL is their brainchild... their baby. We have merely rented out our ground to them.'
The situation has already taken a political colour when Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee officially came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan on Friday. West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee clearly batted for Khan as she described the incident as a 'small one'. Banerjee added, 'The incident is being blown out of proportion. I have heard that Shah Rukh’s daughter and a few other children were with him. The security guards had ill-treated and even manhandled some of the children to which he protested.'
Wankhede Stadium controversy is sure to provide fodder for the politicians in the days to come.
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