Never denied security for Indo-Pak match: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 9

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the state government had never denied security for the India-Pakistan cricket match, that was to be held at Dharamsala on March 19. The decision to shift the venue was that of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

“We had made our position very clear right at the outset that we were fully capable of providing security but would not use force against the families of the martyrs,” he said.

Shifting of the match to Kolkata would not make any difference to anyone in the state as for the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), money was above the sacrifice and honour of the martyrs.

“I am not answerable to Anurag Thakur but yes, the families of the martyrs have a right to protest. At the same time we would not have allowed them to obstruct the match,” said Virbhadra.

He said the state zgovernment had at no stage expressed its incapability to provide security for the match and this had been conveyed even to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Right at the outset, Virbhadra had made it clear that the government had respect for the sentiments and feelings of the match. “There was no question of using tear gas or lathis against the families of the martyrs, whom we all are so proud of,” he reiterated.

Earlier, even BJP MP Shanta Kumar had opposed the holding of the match on the ground that this would hurt the sentiments of the families of the martyrs. Transport Minister GS Bali and president of the Himachal Chapter of Indian Ex-servicemen League Vijai Singh Mankotia too had expressed similar sentiments and had threatened to hold protest on the day of the match.

On the other hand, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur blamed Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for creating an atmosphere of doubt over the India-Pakistan clash.

"After the directive of the court, the CM saying that atmosphere is not good (in the state), raises a question mark. When you say the match can't take place, nine days before the tournament, I don't think any CM of other states would make a statement like that," Thakur, chief of HPCA, said.

"I can only say that a wrong signal has been sent to the world by Himachal CM. His statements could have been avoided. The CM saying that the venue is not safe dents the image of the state and country," Thakur added.

( with inputs from PTI)