The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, opposing the recent decision of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to retain Chinese company Vivo as its title sponsor for the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 19 September to 10 November 2020.
The CAIT mentioned that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is uniting the nation with his call for “vocal for local” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, the decision of the BCCI contradicts the policy of the government and hurts sentiments of the nation which is still facing China›s aggression at the borders. The apex trade body has also urged the government to withhold permission for the event.
“Under such a scenario, the decision of the BCCI smacks of its lust for money in utter disregard of safety of the people and that too involving Chinese companies,” reads the letter by Praveen Khandelwal, national general secretary of CAIT. “On the other hand due to Covid-19, various restrictions have been imposed by the Government for holding events in any part of the country which are in the larger interest of the people of India and contribute significantly to the efforts of the Union Government to curb spreading of Covid,” the letter reads further.
“It is also worthwhile to mention that mega international sports events like the Olympics and Wimbledon have been cancelled due to Covid. Whereas, the BCCI being unable to hold IPL events in India choose to hold the event in Dubai which clearly speaks its resolve to hold IPL positively come what may. Such an attitude of BCCI is highly regrettable and needs to be condemned in the strongest words. We would like to add that holding of IPL event in Dubai is away from the fact that uppermost in mind should be the concern about health and safety of all of those who come together to make IPL happen — the public in Dubai and visitors from around the world including India, players, guests, members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors, and local residents as well as broader responsibility of BCCI to Country›s efforts to tackle this global challenge to the way of life,” Khandelwal added.
RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) also opposed the decision of the BCCI to retain Vivo on Monday.
“Whole world is boycotting China, IPL is sheltering them,” Ashwani Mahajan, national coconvener of SJM, tweeted.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too slammed the IPL on Sunday, tweeting, “Chinese cellphone makers will continue as title sponsors of the IPL while people are told to boycott Chinese products. It’s no wonder China is thumbing its nose at us when we are so confused about how to handle Chinese money/investment/sponsorship/ advertising.”