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.