New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) MP Sharad Yadav on Friday called the glamourous and cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) a ‘den of thieves’ and demanded action against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel in the ongoing controversy.
“IPL is a den of thieves. From Mauritius to Switzerland, all sorts of money has been parked here under your government's nose,” Yadav told Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
“Two ministers have been named. But what is the government doing? Just because they are from NCP which is a key ally of the UPA government, you are sitting with your eyes closed,” said Yadav.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said IPL has become ‘a huge scam’.
"A lot of people including people in the government are neck deep in this scam. IPL has turned out to be a huge scam. I think the worst ever, the biggest ever in this country and therefore there is a need for an impartial enquiry into this whole episode," Sinha told reporters outside the Parliament on Friday.
On the other hand, Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that the government would consider the Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tht probe the issue of black money in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
“The decision on JPC is to be taken after due diligence and consideration. It cannot be like instant coffee or instant consideration. I will communicate your sentiments to the Prime Minister. As and when the government takes a decision, we will come to Parliament. Let us wait for some time," Mukherjee said.
The Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Friday reiterated their demand for a JPC to probe the issue of black money in the IPL.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said that there is rampant corruption in the IPL and forming a JPC to look into the matter is the need of the hour.
Left leader Gurudas Dasgupta said, "IPL is a massive scam…. an unparalleled scam in the history of India." He also stressed on the need to form a JPC.