Won't be able to provide security to IPL matches: Sushilkumar Shinde

NEW DELHI: The Government reiterated that it will not be able to provide security to this year's Indian Premier League as its dates clash with general elections.

"We have conveyed to the BCCI that we will not be able to provide security to IPL matches. Our forces will be deployed for security of Lok Sabha elections. So, how we can give them forces," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here.

Sources said that the Home Ministry has conveyed to the BCCI that it would be able to provide security to the T20 tournament only after the general elections, which are likely to begin early April and expected to be over by mid-May.

IPL matches are likely be held in the April 9 to June 3 window.

In its Working Committee Meeting on February 28 in Bhubaneswar, the BCCI had devised a strategy by which they can at least hold a substantial part of the seventh edition of IPL in India as per the wishes of the franchises if the counting of votes in the general elections end by May 15.

The BCCI has options of holding the matches in South Africa, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates. A final decision on this issue is likely to be taken tomorrow.

Nearly two lakh central paramilitary force personnel, in addition to state police forces, are expected to be deployed for the multi-phased Lok Sabha polls.

The sources said that the Home Ministry has started preparing for the massive exercise of mobilising the security personnel from different paramilitary forces to be deployed for poll duties.