Legalise betting in cricket, says Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, May 28 (IANS) Betting in cricket should be legalised, union Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said here Tuesday said while coming out in defence of cricket board president N. Srinivasan.

"If betting is legal elsewhere why shouldn't it be legalised in India as well," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and ruling National Conference patron told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Ganderbal.

He came out in strong defence of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been arrested for his alleged involvement in spot fixing Indian Premier League matches. Meiyappan is chief of the Chennai Super Kings team.

"Tomorrow, if my son-in-law is found involved in something why should I be blamed," Abdullah asked amid rising speculation over whether Srinivasan would quit.

Abdullah, a member of the BCCI, said the present structure of the board should continue.

Asked whether he would like to head the BCCI, he said: "No, I am now too old for that."

Several bookies as well as three Rajasthan Royals players, including S. Sreesanth, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in spot fixing.

Our leaders are in the habit of comparing what is available abroad and wanting the same in India - for the bad points.

Why don't they compare for the good points?

Why don't they show the same intolerance for corruption as is shown by those governments?

Why don't they strive for the same cleanliness in civic life and inculcate the same civic sense as those people?

In Singapore spitting or throwing litter on the streets is punishable.

Chewing gum is banned there.

My grandson and granddaughter have been admitted to two schools in the USA without having to pay any donation fees.

The first was a cooperative private school.

However, since the school did not have a bus service they will be shifting them to a public school with bus service.

The public school is really good and not like our government run schools which are controlled by the unions.

Our ministers are asking for legalizing betting saying that it will bring revenue to the government - just like the liquor industry.

Next they will be asking to legalize bribery so that the government gets a cut from both the giver and the taker.