After facing heat over cheergirls, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is now
under the scanner of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss who criticised
the cricket body for allegedly promoting liquor through surrogate advertisments
at their cricket matches.
Ramadoss, who is in the forefront of a campaign against alochol abuse, said he
would take up the matter with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
"It is unfortunate that things like these are happening out there and
we will be taking up the issue with the Information and Broadcasting ministry.
But then yesterday the Supreme Court has not taken any cognisance as well, "
Ramadoss said when asked by reporters what he thought about the IPL allegedly
promoting surrogate advertising.
IPL CEO Sundara Raman however categorically said that IPl does not promote
liquor but promoted cricket through the tournament.
"IPL is promoting cricket. IPL is not promoting liquor through advertising.
That is a franchisee name(The Royal Challengers). Yesterday there was a Public
Interest Litigation(PIL) in the Court(Supreme Court) and it has been awarded
in favour of the Bangalore franchisee, saying there is absolutely nothing
to it," Raman said.
This is the third controversy that has dogged the IPL since it kicked off early
this month after politicians demanded a ban on US-style cheerleaders and after
the slapping incident involving Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth.
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