Rajeev Shukla meets Home Secy for smooth conduct of Chennai matches

Amid threats of suspending Twenty20 League in Chennai over the Cauvery water dispute, Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday met Union Home Secretary Rajeev Gauba and demanded enhanced security arrangements during the IPL matches in Chennai.

With Tamil Nadu's Cauvery river water sharing row with Karnataka intensifying, there were speculations that a few IPL matches of the present season might be shifted to Kerala.

"Today I meet with the home security and discussed the security concerns with him. He spoke to the director general of police and given instructions for security to the spectators and players to avoid any untoward incident," Shukla told ANI.

The IPL chairman added that the plan is to conduct all matches in Chennai and it is on the police to handle protests.

He said, "We are trying that those matches should take place in Chennai itself. There is no plan to move the matches to other states. Tamil Nadu government has assured that full-fledged security will be provided during the matches."

"If there will be any issue than the Tamil Nadu government will have to look for a plan B," Shukla added.

Earlier, actor turned politician Rajinikanth had called for a boycott of the IPL in light of the Cauvery row stating that the cash-rich league will divert public attention from the raging dispute.