India to review security for Indian Premier League: Jaiswal

New Delhi, Mar 4 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal on Wednesday said that Indian Government would review security for the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the attack on Sri Lankan cricket players in Pakistan.

"The two (elections and IPL) are going to take place around the same period. What has happened in Pakistan has also raised concerns. We don't want to take any risk by being negligent," said Jaiswal.

He said that the priority of the government is to ensure smooth elections. He added that the safety of the cricketers would also not be compromised.

"We will sit and talk with IPL. All the paramilitary forces would be engaged in the elections work. And keeping in mind the new security threats, we don't want to have any lapse in security. We want to take all the precautions. So, we need to chalk a way out so that we are able to give full security to the cricketers as well as the elections also take place in a smooth manner," said Jaiswal.

The league had been looking to rework dates for some of the games because it would have clashed with the poll, a multi-phased affair to help deploy security forces for the massive exercise.

The attack has thrown major sporting events in the region into serious doubt. New Delhi is due to stage the Commonwealth Games next year and India are then due to jointly host the 2011 World Cup alongside Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Pakistan's hopes of co-hosting the games have almost vanished following the attack. (ANI)