Vizag ODI caught up in U-politics - TeluguPeople.com News

VISAKHAPATNAM: The One-Day International cricket match between India and West Indies scheduled for November 24 at Visakhapatnam, has brought to the fore the cold war between Minister for Investments and Infrastructure Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Minister for Tribal Welfare Pasupuleti Bala Raju.

While Ganta Srinivasa Rao wrote a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) demanding shifting of the ODI venue in view of the Samaikyandhra agitation, Bala Raju dismissed the appeal of his Cabinet colleague as a non-sense. The cold war between the rival ministers has peaked even as the Samaikyandhra agitation has again gained momentum.

Despite having an exclusive cricket stadium, star hotels and other infrastructural facilities required for hosting the ODI, Visakhapatnam is not getting a fair chance to host international cricket matches.

The City of Destiny has been allotted the second ODI between India and Windies after a long gap. But minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao felt that it is not the right time for Visakhapatnam to host an ODI as the entire Seemandhra region is fighting for the united state.

'At this juncture, it is not good to organise an ODI in Visakhapatnam as the people are fighting against the Centre's decision to bifurcate the state,' said the minister explaining the reasons for his decision to ask the BCCI to cancel or change the venue of the second ODI cricket match.

The Non-political Joint Action Committee of Visakhapatnam too has demanded that the BCCI cancel the match in Visakhapatnam. The other associations including APNGOA, Bar Association, Muslim JAC, Medical JAC, Teachers' Association and AU Student JAC also demanded that the BCCI cancel the ODI in Visakhapatnam.

'For the past 100 days, the people of the entire Seemandhra region have been agitating against the UPA Government's decision. People from all walks of life in Seemandhra are participating in the agitation demanding that the UPA government roll back its decision.

Employees have sacrificed their salaries for about 66 days, while students have lost almost three months of academic year. Various businesses, employees and daily wage labourers have been severely affected.

Everybody is voluntarily participating in the agitation knowing full well about the problems associated with it only to keep the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Keeping this in view, we will not allow the ODI to to be hosted in Visakhapatnam,' Balamohan Das, chairman of non-political JAC said. He also appealed to public in and around of Vizag not to buy the cricket match tickets as a mark of protest.

On his part, Bala Raju announced that he was most loyal to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and as a sincere Congress worker he was supporting the high command's decision on Telangana issue.

He said it was not correct to stop the match in Visakhapatnam. 'Generally, any cricket match will be cancelled due to rain or other natural disaster.

Though there is a strong sentiment for Samaikyandhra, it is not correct to stop the ODI at Visakhapatnam. A massive exercise has preceded the allotment of the match to the city. The match will be played as per schedule and tight security will be arranged by the government,' Bala Raju said.