BJP Secretary Vivekanada Gupta urges BCCI to shift all IPL matches out of Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s current drought issues has made BJP Secretary Vivekananda Gupta to request the BCCI to shift all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, outside the state. Maharashtra will host 19 IPL matches between Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, including the final in Wankhede stadium.

In a letter directed to BCCI Chief Shashank Manohar, Gupta said, “A standard cricket field requires close to 80,000 to 1, 00, 000 litres per application, considering the current state of affairs in Maharashtra, it is unethical to fulfil these demands. 90 lakh farmers have been affected in the drought, with the Vidarbha region being the worst affected.”

There are severe water problems in Maharashtra. In his statement, Gupta also added that close to 3, 00, 000 litres of water will be required per week to meet stadium requirements. He added, “Is it wise to waste 70 lakh litres of water, when half the state can’t get a single drop of it? We must show our respect to the farmers, who are struggling right now.”

The games are scheduled between April 9 and May 29. He added. “The BCCI President himself hails from this region, and I’m sure he will be able to understand the current plight of Maharashtra. We as a collective unit should value the lives of people more than sport.”

“The Marathwada region has not received rainfall in the last two years; the amount of water we waste in the stadium will sustain them for close to half a decade. We must prioritise.”

The tournament is set to commence from April 9, with new franchise Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG) taking on Mumbai Indians.