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

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) Holding the Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance government responsible for the BCCI's
decision to shift the IPL out of the country, senior Bharatiya
Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley Sunday said the Indian
government'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 told
reporters 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 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) 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.

"The government should reconsider their stand because it
will have wrong implication on not only cricket or other
sports, but the national security in general," Jaitley added.

The BJP leader also felt the shifting of IPL out of the
country will have a negative impact on India's tourism
industry and said, "The incident is a cause of worry as it
shows the Centre can't guarantee the crowd management. It is
worrying because the tourists don't want to go to a country
which is not safe."

"And how Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra governments first
agreed and then backtracked? Last year also, the state
election schedule clashed with the IPL matches in Karnataka,
but everything went fine in Bangalore.

"If this can be done in one city, it can be done in eight
cities as well," Jaitley said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh
rued that the lucrative Twenty20 event would be held on
foreign soil.

"It is unfortunate that IPL has been shifted out of
India. It could have been held in the country," he told
reporters.