The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has urged the BCCI to end its association with Chinese mobile phone makers VIVO, who are the title sponsors of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
BCCI retained them for the upcoming IPL 13 season, despite the border tensions with China, after deliberating the matter in Sunday's governing council meeting. They also retained other companies with Chinese investment including Paytm and Dream11 for the IPL 2020.
BCCI had signed a deal worth well over INR 2,000 Cr with VIVO to become the title sponsors of the IPL for five years, which is touted as one of the most lucrative deals in T20 league cricket history.
Following the Galwan Valley clash at the Eastern Ladakh, there were calls for a boycott of Chinese products, but the Indian board decided to continue with the VIVO as IPL sponsor citing after consulting the legal team keeping in mind the sponsorship agreement.
Well, the BCCI’s decision to continue with sponsors linked to China didn’t go down well with many including the Swadeshi Jagran – which has openly warned the board to reconsider their decision, otherwise, it will appeal for the boycott of the IPL 2020 if the Chinese company is not removed.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch's national co-convener Ashwini Mahajan told IANS: “The sentiment is against China and Chinese companies at a time when the Chinese Army killed 20 of our soldiers in Galwan Valley. In such a situation, the IPL organizers have made the Chinese mobile company a sponsor. This shows the insensitivity on the part of the IPL organizers. If the decision to remove it is not considered then we will have no option but to boycott the IPL.”
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Mahajan signed off by saying, “We urge the IPL organizers to reconsider the decision to allow the Chinese company as their sponsor. Failure to do so will instigate the patriotic citizens to boycott the IPL. Remember nothing is above the country, not even cricket.”
Noteworthy, the IPL 13 will be played from September 19 to November 10 in UAE.
(With IANS Inputs)
