IPL Goes the NRI Way

But Has Terrorism has found an ally in Politics?

The BCCI has finally discovered what millions of Indians had discovered long back – Foreign land. Millions of Indians now live outside India and while they revel in foreign lands shopping in huge hyper markets choosing between 5 different brands of packaged yogurt, they always claim that their heart remains in India (and in the home made curd prepared in steel vessels warmed in the gas cylinder compartment). The drive the fanciest of mercs and chargers on expressways but claim to miss the drive in their rattly Santro on pot-holed Indian roads with dust grime and the truck ahead’s poisonous emissions mixing in their car’s perfume. They write blogs about everything Indian – Indians, customs, politics all knowing very well that they do not even have the right to vote but what the heck, “our heart is in the right place” or so they think. So why is it that in spite of being the most loyal followers of India, they go and make their lives elsewhere, just coming back for a trip once in a few years and regularly sending Forex to India thinking they are “doing their part”. Well, the BCCI just touched a few chords here.

With its announcement that it will be shifting the IPL outside India, the BCCI has done what a large numbers of NRIs have done – run away from the lethargy, the red tape, the politics and the corruption that is fast becoming the bane of India. What this means is that the staunchest Indian fan would have to suffice by watching the matches on Television with an ad break every 3 and half minutes while NRIs would lounge in a half empty stadiums sunbathing and drinking beer while watching the best of cricket in their own backyards. It would also mean that the cheer leaders would no longer have to worry about covering up. But apart from these trivial issues, in these times, it would also spell doom for the state cricket boards, the hotel chains, the airlines and loads of others who expected that the IPL would at least make them achieve their second quarter targets quite early. But what the heck, who cares? At least the Establishment doesn’t care.

The Establishment is worried about Politics – Congress and NCP are locking horns and this is one way of getting back at each other. The BJP ruled states gave a green light to the IPL whereas the Congress led states raised their hands, expressing inability to provide adequate security. The theory was reinforced in Maharashtra where the Congress chief minister expressed his inability while the NCP Home minister confirmed that they could provide adequate security to both events the IPL and the General Elections.

What does this tell you about India as a country? The IPL dates were announced months before the election commission announced the dates for the General elections. This could definitely have been avoided. I’m sure the EC considers major festivals like Diwali while deciding on the election dates. Could they have forgotten the IPL? Or did they think that the million dollar cricket franchises and international players wouldn’t mind re-arranging their schedules on short notice. Of course, the Elections cannot be held during any other month than April, can they?

But I’m sure, the BCCI isn’t complaining. Where it would need to spend a lot more on travel and staying arrangements, it would equally save a lot that would’ve otherwise been used in greasing palms and oiling the machinery in India.

So finally, who loses out in all this hoopla?

The Indian public who would’ve filled the stadiums to capacity and would’ve got a reason to be happy and paint their faces blue;

The hotel operators, air lines, tour operators, state cricket associations who would’ve earned their share in the pie;

But most of all, the perception of India as a nation in its ability to schedule and organize successful events of such magnitude. This will definitely be judged against us whenever International sport bodies are deciding venues for events as the Olympics, Asian Games and World cups.

The Taliban is definitely happy! The Congress is happy, And yes, so is Mithunda and the ICL.

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And while this post was brewing in my mind, there is news about the BJP being issued a recommendation by the EC on not giving a ticket to Varun Gandhi to contest the elections and BJP replying back strongly contesting the authority of the EC to give such a recommendation.

I tell my brother, Just see Navin, who gets justice in India? Raj Thackrey walks free, Varun Gandhi, Sanjay Dutt, Shibu Soren, everyone walks free, did Jessica Lal get justice, there are scores of other high profile cases against politicians, leaders, powerful businessmen, Mayawati, Lalu Yadav, who actually gets justice in India? Just imagine the plight of a common person; If he gets bullied or beaten by a powerful goon for no fault of his, he has nowhere to turn to. Doesn’t this give rise to the mob culture? Coz. the mob thinks there is no justice for us, let’s find our own justice. The law and order situation is so corrupt and now even IPL is moving out because of this dirty politics and lethargy. Isn’t this the reason why even You and I left India?

And he says “Maybe, this is the situation because you and I left India.”

I convince myself thinking, if in spite of being powerful and having loads of money at its disposal, even IPL had to leave, then I’m just another number in the crowd. And btw, my heart is in the right place, or so I think.

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