Bengal: This Holi, get drenched in political colours

From participating in colourful processions, to organizing community celebrations, distributing sweets and gulal, and attending get-togethers in the evening — Holi in Bengal’s poll season is prompting many a candidate to use several novel ways to reach out to and bond with voters.

Be it the ruling Trinamool or the Congress or the BJP, barring the Left parties, nominees of most parties have drawn up elaborate plans to ‘celebrate Holi with the masses’. And though Left candidates will not play Holi with the people, they may attend small get-togethers on March 23 evening.

“Like every year, this time too I will play Holi with the people. We will take part in processions, complete with songs and dances. I am busy in door-to-door campaign for over six hours a day. But on the day of Holi, everything will be special,” said Sovondeb Chatterjee, Trinamool candidate from Rashbehari constituency.

Bags full of gulal have already been stocked up in party offices and green gulal, the colour of the Trinamool, is topping the sales charts. Trinamool heavyweights Subrata Mukherjee, Sovon Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim, all featuring in the Narada sting op, will celebrate Holi in their neighbourhoods.

Ritesh Tiwari, the BJP candidate from Chowringhee, said, “I have been invited at two dozen places. I will try to attend all.”

Rajib Majumder, the CPI(M) candidate from Manicktala, said, “I have many invitations, especially in Hindi-speaking belts. I will surely attend them.”

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Worried ICC shifts India-Pak match to Kolkata

The ICC ended the uncertainty and anxiety over the World T20 match between India and Pakistan - scheduled for March 19 - by shifting the venue from Dharamshala to Kolkata citing security concerns.

The shift in venue, however, has not yet convinced Pakistan to send its men's and women's teams to India. "Pakistan is still waiting for an explicit assurance from the government of India over security of its teams and Pakistani spectators. Without that, the Pakistan team is unlikely to participate in the World Cup," sources in the Pakistan High Commission told TOI.

Sources said Pakistan's high commissioner Abdul Basit had sought a meeting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday to discuss the issue but his request was turned down.

On Wednesday, TOI had reported that the PCB had written to ICC on Tuesday evening requesting a change in the venue. ICC CEO Dave Richardson announced the relocation of the match to Kolkata, saying: "The decision has been taken for security reasons in consultation with the BCCI, relevant state associations, ICC and BCCI security advisors and the concerns shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board."

Richardson also said the venue for the second semifinal of the World T20, scheduled to be held in Mumbai, would be shifted if Pakistan were to make the last four stage. "This again is for security reasons," said Richardson, hinting at the threat posed by Shiv Sena.

The India-Pakistan match was under a cloud ever since the Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh said, and later reiterated, that the people of Himachal did not want the game to be held in the state.The CM had also said that he would not ask the police to lathi-charge family members of martyrs, who had threatened to protest against the match with the 'enemy' in Dharamshala.

"The concerns arose after the recent public comments made by the Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh.There was also the risk of potential demonstrations and disruptions which could ham per the peaceful conduct of the match. Our concerns relate to the uncertainty over the level of those threats - whether they would involve just 100 people or many more, whether the roads to the stadium would be blockaded, whether attempts would be made to damage property," said Richardson.

Richardson also questioned he government's commitment to holding the match. "There was also an uncertainty over the level of commitment in implementing the security plans that have been developed to mitigate the threat. We understand the disappointment of the ans. However, the safety and security of the event is of paramount importance. I don't think the BCCI could have prevented anything from happening," he added.

Reacting to this development, PCB said n an official release: "Our government is expecting an assurance to Pakistan against specific threats to the Pakistan team from various political parties and groups during the tour. Pending this assurance and in accordance with the recommendation by the security delegation, the PCB has decided to defer the departure of Pakistan men's and women's teams to India."

"We have not had that abso lute assurance yet from the PCB. We are hopeful they wil now board the plane and come for the event. If they don' come, the match won't take place. It will be an unjustified decision not to come," said Richardson.

Richardson, a former South African wicket-keeper, added i was not the right time to think about action against HPCA. "It is too early to state any disciplinary action against the state association. Had we not played the match at all, it would have been more worrisome... the broadcasters, the sponsors would have been upset."

When asked whether Mohali and Bengaluru were also considered as possible venues, Richardson said: "We took into account what Pakistan had said. The considerations were simply logistic in nature. We have seven TV kits, four TV crews and the logistics of moving them to a different venue was one of the main reasons for choosing Kolkata."

Richardson added the fans will have the option of claiming full refund for their tickets or the option of attending the Kolkata game on March 19th.

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