Delhi police said commitments on the elections prompted it to take a stand against organising Indian Premier League matches.
Delhi police on Wednesday said commitments on the coming Lok Sabha elections and the general security scenario prompted it to take a stand against organising Indian Premier League matches in the national capital.
"We have election commitments as well as security commitments. I have to provide additional personnel keeping in view of what happened in Pakistan. This is a risk I don't like to take," police commissioner Y S Dadwal said here on Wednesday.
New Delhi, Jaipur and Visakhapatanam have been dropped as venues in the latest revised schedule for the second edition of the Indian Premier League after police of the respective cities indicated that it would be difficult for them to provide security cover. The new schedule is still awaiting green signal from the Home Ministry.
Noting that security in the city has been strengthened after serial blasts in Delhi and Mumbai attacks, Dadwal said the IPL schedule coincides with general elections and there would be a lot of deployment of central police forces.
"We are stretched on duty. I have to withdraw people from their assignments if we have to provide security for IPL. We find it difficult. We are all cricket fans but my priority is to maintain security and people's safety," he said.
When pointed out that Mumbai is hosting IPL matches despite the terror attacks four months ago, Dadwal said that one could not compare cities.
"Compare the size of Mumbai with Delhi...it is also part of Maharashtra and it has huge reserve of armed forces," Dadwal said.
Asked how Delhi Police is going to ensure security for Commonwealth Games next year when it is expressing its inability now, he said the situation then will be different.
"During the 2010 Games, there would be no elections. Also by them we will have another 10,000 personnel in our force.
All vacancies will also be filled for making comprehensive arrangements," he said.
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