As IPL starts today, Fadnavis tells cricketers to go away

As IPL season starts with the first match in Mumbai on Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fanavis gave a Gudipadva (New Year) parting gift to the cricketing authorities saying, `Either you play or don't play, or even shift the matches elsewhere, but please do not ask for water to wet the hot cricket grounds.' Fadnavis told the money-making cricketing authorities that Maharashtra was facing the worst drought in a century. Hence there is no water for cricket, not even recycled water. Nineteen matches are scheduled in the three cricket stadia of Wankhede, New Bombay and Pune stadiums during the current IPL season. The cricketing authorities will have to make alternative arrangements for the smooth run of the IPL. Not to forget that the cricketing authorities are stinking rich. They are rich enough to use bottled water. However, Maharashtra is going through the worst water crisis owing to scarcity situation which had already taken a toll of some 320,000 farmers' lives, as stated by human rights activists. Tickets have already been sold out for all the 19 matches. But then the cricketing authorities would find it difficult to lose money because betting agencies may have alreeady put enough pressure. The first match was permitted by the Bombay High Court, telling the cricket authorities to go away from Maharashtra. It remains to be seen who wins, satta operator behind T20 cricket or dying Marathwada farmer.