IPL abroad sends wrong signal to int'l community: Jaitley

Holding the Congress-led UPA government responsible for the BCCI's decision to shift the IPL out of the country, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the Centre's "non-cooperation" will send wrong signals to international community before the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"Has India become so unsecured that a domestic tournament has to go abroad? The whole country is disturbed with the non-cooperation by the government, which will send wrong signals about India's security condition," Jaitley said here.
    
"We used to hear about security threats to sporting events in Pakistan, but now this is happening in India. This will surely give wrong signals," he emphasised.

"After this, how will we respond to foreign teams who will travel to the country and how will we convince the tourists and players that India is secured for the Delhi Commonwealth Games?" asked Jaitley.
    
The BCCI on Sunday decided to stage the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, which proved to be hugely popular last year, on foreign soil after government told the organisers it may not be possible to provide adequate security during the event due
to upcoming general elections.

"This was the first time a global sporting brand was created in the country. But if the second edition of the event is not held in the country, that means we are diluting the brand," Jaitley said.