Cricket auction shameful, Govt must take over BCCI: Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Terming the auction of cricketers a ''national shame,'' Janata Dal (U) President Sharad Yadav today demanded that the government take over BCCI and regulate cricket for promotion of sports and not use it as tool of market forces.

''It was a day of national shame when cricketers were put on auction for sale by big money of the country. It was a gross violation of human dignity and shameless demonstration of money power. Civilised society must condemn it,'' Mr Yadav said here.

Pointing out the ''gross corruption'' prevailing in BCCI, Mr Yadav said its autonomy must be curtailed as it had turned cricket into ''a big business where money is flowing freely.'' He said what was more shocking in this auction was that it was done in full public view in a very shameful manner.

''While condemning the auctioning the cricketers, we demand the withdrawal of all medals, honour, citation and freebies given to all those Indian cricketers who have put themselves in market for their auction. Central and state governments have given them crores of rupees in the past. Such cash assistance given to them must be recovered and should be utilised for the promotion of other games,'' he said.

''India is the second largest country in the world in numerical strength but at the bottom in the medal tally in the world events such as Olympic games. Instead of devoting resources on the development of other games, the government is spending a lot on cricket, the market has hijacked the cricket completely,'' he said.

Mr Yadav said he would take up the issue of SEZ and entry of corporate house in retail market during the coming Parliament session. Asked about the Women's Reservation Bill, he said the JD(U) was in favour of giving reservation to women within the reservation for various disadvantaged groups.

UNI AJ MS KN1700