New Delhi:
Sports Minister M S Gill on Friday hit out at the Indian Premier League organisers for serving liquor inside stadiums during matches, saying sports and alcohol should never be mixed.
"Sports and liquor should never be mixed. I am surprised, that this is being done in Delhi, and possibly in every other centre, in India, in order to push up the earnings of the commercial enterprises," Gill said in a statement.
"I cannot see any justification for the Excise Commissioner to allow liquor in Sports Stadiums, where we encourage youth to watch their icons, and uplift themselves," he added.
Gill's comments came a day after the Delhi assembly was rocked by protests from ruling Congress MLAs over alleged obscene dance by cheerleaders and consumption of liquor in stadiums during IPL matches.
Demanding a ban on IPL matches at the venue, Congress legislator Ramakant Goswami said, "In the name of sports, people are consuming liquor openly in the stadium. Police too is supporting such gambling and betting."
Gill supported the objections raised by the MLAs and called on the organisers to take note.
"The objections of the elected representatives are valid, and should be listened to immediately," he said.