Jaitley lambasts Chidambaram on IPL's shift abroad

The Indian Premier League's decision to shift abroad has "almost clubbed" India with Pakistan as an unsafe sporting venue, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said today as he took another potshot at Home Minister P Chidambaram for refusing to assure security for the event.

Jaitley, also the Delhi and District Cricket Association president, said the Home Ministry's refusal to assure security for the high-profile Twenty20 league has given the country a bad name.

"The Impression which has gone is that India is not a safe destination for sporting events. Today, it's sporting events, tomorrow it maybe other events where crowds gather. It maybe some religious events like Kumbh Mela or Ajmer Sharif function," Jaitley fumed in a press conference here.

"Therefore the impression that India is a safe destination must be created. Country's activities don't come to a standstill merely because elections are being held.

"He must realise that it amounts to giving India a bad name, almost clubbing us with the image Pakistan has. He must concentrate on the job assigned to him," Jaitley said.

Chidambaram today reacted sharply to Jaitley's observation that the Centre's "non-cooperation" on IPL sent out a wrong signal to the international community.

"I know that Jaitley has a penchant for exaggeration but because he also wears the cap of the President of the DDCA, he seems to have gone overboard this time," Chidambaram said.

Reacting to Chidambaram's criticism, Jaitley said, "This kind of snide personal remark is not substitute for improving India's image on security.

"Chidambaram now has the responsibility of the Home Minister of the country. He was the Finance Minister and I regret to say, when he was the Finance Minister, our investments were not safe and when he is the Home Minister, our security is not safe," he said.