Congress-BJP tussle over HPCA casts shadow on India-West Indies tie

The tussle between ruling Congress and opposition BJP over the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) issue has cast a shadow on the 2nd ODI match between India and West Indies scheduled to be held here on October 17.

BJP MP and HPCA president Anurag Thakur today claimed that they had written to the district police and civil authorities seeking security cover and administrative support for the One Day International match, but "we are yet to receive response".

"We have written to the district police and the district administration on September 5, but they have not responded so far... Whereas HPCA has to report about the preparatory steps taken for the ODI match between India and West Indies within a week," Thakur said here.

Thakur, son of former Chief Minister P K Dhumal, alleged that that Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government's only aim was to take control of the Dharamsala stadium.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner C Palrasu confirmed that the administration had received a communication from HPCA regarding the match. "Whatever we can, we will do," said Palrasu.

The district police authorities too said that they had received a request from the sports body and would be intimating the matter to the higher officials.

Chief Minister Singh, however, had said yesterday that the state government would extend all possible help to HPCA for the international match.

Ruling Congress and opposition BJP have been locked in a bitter fight on the subject of land allotted to HPCA. While Thakur claimed that all rules were followed before constructing a luxury hotel on the land allotted by the government, Congress leaders on their part alleged that he was trying to justify the misdeeds of the association.