Cauvery dispute: IPL matches shifted from Chennai

Protests in Tamil Nadu against the Central government’s delay in forming the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) have led to the shifting of all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches that were to be held in Chennai. The decision seems to have been made after political parties, activists and social groups vociferously opposed the conduct of the event while the issue was still unresolved

The Centre has been the target of much ire in Tamil Nadu for its failure to comply with the February 16 order by the Supreme Court that was passed during the hearing on the water-sharing dispute.

Earlier, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M K Stalin said that the organisers of IPL matches should understand people's problems. However, he added that his party was not against holding the matches.

The Tamil film fraternity has also joined the ongoing protests. “It would be an embarrassment if we celebrate IPL, while common people are thirsty. I implore the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players to at least sport black bands over the issue,” said the actor-turned-politician Rajinikanthi.

On Tuesday, CSK fans were very excited to watch their team play at their home ground – the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai – after two years of suspension. However, the city was rocked with protests over the Cauvery issue. Protesters, including some from the film fraternity, under the banner of the Federation for Tamil Art, Literature and Culture, demonstrated outside the stadium. Nearly 4,000 police personnel were deployed and dozens of protesters were arrested as they attempted to enter the stadium.

Noted film director Bharathiraja and directors Gautaman, Ameer and Thangar Bachaan were detained during the protest. Following this, the police lathicharged the protesters who were refusing to disperse.

Addressing the protesters, Bharathiraja said, “Tamils have a legitimate right over Cauvery water and at a time when the State is on the boil, holding the game would only be adding fuel to fire.”

Poet and film lyricist Vairamuthu said the protests were not against cricket but were for Cauvery water. The time limit given by the Supreme Court to the Centre was too long, he felt. Vairamuthu said the protests would continue till their demands were fulfilled. Referring to stone-pelting by some protesters, both said that a few people may have got emotional.

The Centre has been trying to delay action on the Supreme Court order on the formation of the board. Citing the Karnataka elections due on May 12, the Centre filed an affidavit asking for more time for the formation of the CMB.

Last week, the Tamil Nadu government had approached the apex court with a contempt of court petition seeking action against the Centre. The court slammed the Centre for the delay and directed the government to file the draft of the scheme before the court by May 3. The intensifying of protests and its impact on the IPL are likely to add to the pressure the Centre is facing

However, there have been voices of opposition to the protests against the IPL matches too with some unhappy with the politicisation of the sport. Social media was full of arguments for and against the protests.

This is not the first time the IPL has encountered this sort of resistance. During the 2016 season, when Maharashtra was reeling under the ‘worst drought of the century’, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) hosted IPL matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. To maintain the pitches, 60,000 litres of water was required every day. Farmers, who were struggling to irrigate their fields, held demonstrations against it..

Historically, sports events have been used on many occasions to make political statements. In the 1960s, boxer Muhammad Ali famously refused to join the US military to fight in the Vietnam War., Ali said:

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs? . . . If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to twenty-two million of my people, they wouldn’t have to draft me. I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.”

African-American players of the National Football League in the United States have been protesting against racial discrimination by kneeling down while the national anthem is played. This form or protest was initiated in 2016 by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sought to bring to public attention the police brutality against African-Americans.