IPL Spot Fixing: BCCI president Srinivasan should resign, says NCP Leader

Chennai: Describing cricket as an important and popular game, Nationalist Congress Party spokesman D.Tripathi on Friday called for the resignation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, N.Srinivasan.

Spot-fixing in IPL: Full Coverage» Tripathi said that the BCCI president should resigned on moral grounds in the wake of his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings Principal Gurunath Meiyappan being summoned by the crime branch of Mumbai Police to join the investigations into the spot fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Tripathi’s statement came even as India Cements, which owns Chennai Super Kings, issued a bizarre statement that effectively appeared to distance the connection with Meiyappan. The India Cements statement said that Meiyappan was not the Principal (owner) of Chennai Super Kings, and only one of the members of the management looking into its affairs. Tripathi said , “I believe whosoever is guilty should be punished. The media is responsible for making these people heroes.” He further added that match fixing has been taking place for a long time. People involved in fixing should be punished. There money should be consfiscated, as it is the common man’s money. Tripathi demanded that N. Srinivasan should immediately resign, keeping morality in mind, until the investigation is complete.” “I believe people involved in match fixing should be punished strictly. People found guilty should be given rigorous punishment of ten years,” he added. Senior Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Aggarwal said, “We are all worried on what is coming out on IPL. The issue is serious.” He also called for Srinivasan to reign as BCCI president till the investigation into the IPL spot fixing episode is completed. He also said that the Sports Ministry should make a law to end the autonomy of the BCCI “Sports organisations should be brought under the government. There should be strict laws so that these kinds of incidents are not repeated in future,” he added. He also said that there was nothing wrong in politicians heading sports organisations. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Yadav said that the spot fixing episode has destroyed the credibility of the IPL and everything else, and added that “it has lowered the dignity of India.” He further declared that no one is innocent. “They should take action against everyone. They all do it for money. They should close all of this. Everyone is dishonest. They should investigate the matter,” said Yadav. Rajasthan Sports Minister Mangilal Garasia said he would be meeting with various sports associations to discuss modalities for enacting a new sports policy. Delhi’s Education and Sports Minister Kiran Walia said, “It is very important to have discipline in sports. They should not be treated in a different manner as they have done wrong to the whole country. There has to be institutional arrangement.” ANI