A fringe pro-Tamil group issued a veiled threat to Chennai Super Kings saying that it would not be responsible if anything untoward happened to the cricket players considering the charged up atmosphere over the Cauvery issue in the state. “Tamil youths are very angry. If the cricketers go anywhere from the hotel and face any problems, we are not responsible for that. Neither my organisation nor any other group is responsible for it,” said T Velmurugan , president of Thamizhaga Valvurimai Katchi. However, he clarified that his organisation would not cause any harm to players and would hold only protest against the matches.
Velmurugan urged the BCCI and IPL authorities to call off the match between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders to be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday respecting the sentiment of the state people who had been protesting against the centre seeking the Cauvery Management Board. “If the matches were held, we are planning to lay siege to the MA Chidambaram Cricket stadium,” he said.
Another pro-Tamil party Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman introduced a Tamil Nadu flag, akin to Karnataka government unveiling its own flag, and asked the public come together to protest with the state flag instead of party flags. “We will lay siege on the stadium. We want the IPL matches to be shifted to some other state till a solution is found for the Cauvery issue,” he said.
The chorus for IPL match cancellation got stronger with a group of film directors and actor joining it. Directors P Bharathiraja, V Sekar, Thangar Bachan, Ameer, Ventrimaran, Ram and Gouthaman along with actor Sathyaraj floated Tamils Arts Literature Culture Forum to fight for the cause of Tamils and Tamil Nadu sought a ban on IPL matches in Chennai. “We are not against the IPL but we want the matches to be rescheduled. We cannot remain silent as a Tamilian when Tamil Nadu facing issues like Cauvery,” he said.
Strangely, the film personalities were hesitant to call for the cancellation of movie release during the protest. “The cancellation of movie release will have a little impact compared to widely watched cricket matches. Either cancellation or empty stands at Chepauk will accurately reflect the emotions of all Tamils,” director RK Selvamani said.
Undeterred by the warnings of protesting groups, the MA Chidambaram Stadium authorities issued a usual advisory to the spectators. After superstar Rajinikanth’s call for wearing a black armband for the IPL matches, police said that spectators wearing a black dress would not be allowed in the stadium to prevent any protest in support of the Cauvery issue.