The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s head office in Mumbai was rocked by protests on Wednesday over the employment of foreign cheerleaders for the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Members of the Swabhiman Chitrapat Sangathana stormed the Cricket Centre building at the Wankhede stadium and demanded a meeting with IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla over the issue.
“They call IPL the festival of India but they are using foreign cheerleaders and not Indian dancers. That is why we have come here to meet the BCCI and IPL officials to get an explanation from them,” said Sushant Shelar, president of SCS, which is part of Congress leader Nitesh Rane’s Swabhiman Sangathana.
“We had given them a letter stating the same two days back, but they have not replied yet,” he added.
Congress leader Shukla had a brief chat with the protestors and clarified to them that it is up to the franchises to appoint their own cheerleaders and the BCCI has no say in the matter.
“The IPL has no say in this matter. Every franchise selects its own cheerleaders and it is up to them whether they appoint Indians or foreigners,” the IPL chairman said.
But the protestors were not satisfied with Shukla’s response and promised agitation against the BCCI if their demand was not met.
“We will protest in our own style if they don’t heed to our demands and allow Indian dancers to perform as cheerleaders in the upcoming matches of the IPL,” Shelar added.