The Indian Express 29.04.2013
RMC cricket tournament kicks off amid controversies
AMIDST protests by Congress workers, the All Gujarat Inter
Corporation Night T20 Cricket Tournament, hosted by the Rajkot Municipal
Corporation (RMC), got under way here on Sunday evening.
Vaju Vala, Speaker of state Assembly, inaugurated the tournament
and also dedicated to public the new Rs 3 crore floodlights system
installed at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground. Speaking at the
inauguration ceremony of the tournament, Vala said, “Nobody has got the
right to damage public property. There are other ways to protest.”
His remarks came after local Congress workers dug up the pitch on
Saturday in an attempt to jeopardise the tournament. The ground staff,
however, patched up the damaged area and made it ready for the match on
Sunday.
The Congress workers had demanded the cancellation of the
tournament saying the RMC could not afford to “waste” water on the
ground.
However, city mayor Janak Kotak denied the charge. “To maintain
the ground is a routine affair. We are not spending a single penny on
the tournament. Sponsors are bearing all the expenses,” said Kotak.
Senior BJP leader Vijau Rupani also took a dig at Congress.
“There is no logic in demanding the cancellation of this tournament on
the basis of shortage of water,” he said.
