IPL controversy: BJP, Congress have joined hands, says JD-U

NEW DELHI: JD-U today took strong exception to the compromise formula arrived by in BCCI over the IPL controversy and the demand for resignation of its President N Srinivasan, saying BJP and Congress have joined hands in the issue.

"It is an unparallelled decision. This is unique that there are allegations against the relative of an institution head and instead of resigning he merely steps aside. This happened because BJP and Congress joined hands over the issue," JD-U President Sharad Yadav told reporters here.

His comments came in the wake of the Chennai meet of BCCI that saw its President agreeing to "step aside" till a probe against his son-in-law, who has been arrested in the IPL betting scandal, is completed.

Under the compromise formula, former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya made a comeback as head of a four-member interim arrangement to run the Board.

More than a fortnight after the spot-fixing scandal rocked cricketing world, Srinivasan had refused to heed mounting demands for his resignation as Board chief at a meeting of the Working Committee. He said there was no charge against him.

A senior JD-U leader said leaders from BJP and Congress, having interests in cricket bodies, arrived at a compromise to prevent Sharad Pawar group from taking over the sports body.

Criticising the functioning of the BCCI, Yadav said in a press release it was surprising that the government has no control over it though it is one of the richest organisations.

"BCCI has become an open shop for illegal trading. One can easily understand as to why big and powerful people are always interested and mad for getting positions in BCCI. It is a hub for doing betting, Hawala and joining hands with underworld," Yadav alleged.