Last Update: January 16, 2023, 09:45 AM IST
Thiruvananthapuram, India
Shubman Gill (left) and Virat Kohli scored centuries. (AP Photo)
Amid criticism from various quarters of ticket rates for ODIs, Abdurrahiman had courted a huge controversy by saying that those who cannot afford it need not go to the matches.
The Congress held Kerala responsible as the India-Sri Lanka cricket match was played in front of a half-empty stadium here on Sunday. Play The minister’s recent controversial remarks on ticket rates account for low turnout, while the CPI(M) argued that he did not say anything wrong.
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Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, who is currently in the southern state, was of the view that whatever Sports Minister V Abdurrahiman said, people should have avoided coming for the match.
“The absence of people was a loss. It was no loss to the minister. He got some headlines. It is a loss for all those who love cricket and the game.”
Amid criticism from various quarters of ticket rates for ODIs, Abdurrahiman had courted a huge controversy by saying that those who cannot afford it need not go to the matches.
“What is the need to reduce taxes? The demand is that the country is witnessing a phenomenon of price rise so that the tax should be reduced. Those who are starving need not go to watch the match.
Talking to reporters here, Tharoor said the minister could have avoided saying what he said and the public should not have boycotted the match.
“I saw some campaigns on social media to boycott the match. His campaign appears to have been effective. I think it was illogical to boycott it. I was lucky to see the match, and so were the people who came here,” the Congress MP said.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan also laid the blame at the minister’s door, saying that Abdurahiman should not have questioned the self-respect of Malayalees with his remarks.
Satisan said the match was being played in front of empty stands because of the minister’s “hungry” remarks.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, however, came to the minister’s aid by saying that Abdurrahiman only meant to say that those who are poor may not be able to watch the match.
Govindan said, “It was the media that made his statement controversial.”
Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) said the low turnout was due to Sabarimala pilgrimage season, Pongal festival and some CBSE The exam is going to start from Monday.
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Apart from these, another reason given by KCA President Jayesh George to a TV channel was that the last cricket match held here was in September 2022 and the second being held a few months later may have contributed to the poor ticket sales.
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor Arya Rajendran said earlier in the day that the drop in ticket sales was probably because India had already won the series or because it is an ODI which is longer than a 20-20 match, so people might Haven’t got a lot of time to spend on games.
However, he added that the increase in entertainment tax on ticket prices or the minister’s statement could not be the reason for the drop in sales. He said that according to the law, tax is levied between 24 and 48 per cent.
Rajendran also said that the tax rate was decided after discussions with the state government and the KCA. He expected more people to come by the time the match started.
When a controversy erupted over the minister’s statement, the government had said that the entertainment tax had actually been reduced from a higher rate to 12 per cent.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)