New Delhi:
The Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to earn its reputation as the Indian Political League, with allegations surfacing that ministers who are a part of the UPA alliance secretly own stake in some of the league's cricket teams.
Newspapers on Tuesday morning made thinly-veiled references to Praful Patel being a proxy owner. However, speaking exclusively to NDTV, Patel described these reports as a "slanderous campaign" filled with "unsubstantiated allegations." Patel said, "I do not have anything to do with cricket, IPL, BCCI or the bidding process. There is no question of holding any kind of stake."
In response to questions of family links to the IPL, Patel said, "My daughter works as a junior intern with the IPL...that's the extent of my involvement."
When asked about reports that Pawar and he backed the two groups who lost the bids last month for new franchises, Patel denied any association with the Adani Group of Ahmedabad or the Videocon group from Pune. "Anyway they didn't win the bids... If we were so powerful, they would have got the teams," he said.
Describing Sharad Pawar's role in Indian cricket and in the BCCI as "larger than life", Patel said he would welcome an inquiry so that his party's name can be cleared.
Newspapers on Tuesday morning made thinly-veiled references to Praful Patel being a proxy owner. However, speaking exclusively to NDTV, Patel described these reports as a "slanderous campaign" filled with "unsubstantiated allegations." Patel said, "I do not have anything to do with cricket, IPL, BCCI or the bidding process. There is no question of holding any kind of stake."
In response to questions of family links to the IPL, Patel said, "My daughter works as a junior intern with the IPL...that's the extent of my involvement."
When asked about reports that Pawar and he backed the two groups who lost the bids last month for new franchises, Patel denied any association with the Adani Group of Ahmedabad or the Videocon group from Pune. "Anyway they didn't win the bids... If we were so powerful, they would have got the teams," he said.
Describing Sharad Pawar's role in Indian cricket and in the BCCI as "larger than life", Patel said he would welcome an inquiry so that his party's name can be cleared.
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