Updated at: 0323 PST, Saturday, January 23, 2010 NEW DELHI: Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna said the government has nothing to do with IPL. “Government has nothing to do with IPL, on selection of players and various exercises that are connected with it. Pakistan will have to draw a line between where government is connected and where Government of India is an actor,” Krishna said on Friday. Pointing out that visas had been facilitated for players, the government said it was unfortunate that Islamabad was blaming New Delhi for decisions taken at a commercial event and that it was time Islamabad did some introspection for the reasons behind the strain in Indo-Pak ties. The Pakistani government had blamed the government for non-selection of Pakistani players at the IPL auction with interior minister Rehman Malik saying Pakistani players were `insulted’ and accusing India of not being serious about the peace process. With cricket remaining an emotive issue in the subcontinent, the matter took centre stage in Pakistan. “India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us. If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pak friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons,” Malik said, warning that Pakistan would respond in a befitting manner. The matter was also discussed in the National Assembly with speaker Fehmida Mirza saying that her country would not send parliamentary delegations to India. |
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