Kerala sports minister in trouble for giving statement on cricket match ticket

Facing flak for exorbitant ticket rates for the ODI between India and Sri Lanka here, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurrahim has stoked a major controversy by saying that those who cannot afford it will be allowed to attend the match. No need to go see. The minister made the controversial remarks on Sunday when reporters asked whether the government would consider rolling back the reported decision to levy entertainment tax on spectators.

The minister said, “What is the need to reduce taxes? This argument is absurd that the prices of everything in the country are increasing, so the tickets should be made cheaper. Those who are starving need not go to watch the match.” Opposition Congress and BJP in the state lashed out at the minister for his controversial remarks against the poor, saying a minister should not have made such a statement. Criticizing the minister, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan on Monday said people were “shocked” to hear such a “vulgar and absurd statement” from a minister in the state’s democratically elected Communist government.

He said, “The Chief Minister should not allow such a minister to sit on the chair even for an hour. What does the CPI (Marxist Communist Party), which claims to be the party of the poor, have to say about this?” requested to withdraw. Surendran said, “The sudden increase in entertainment tax from five to 12 per cent has put cricket fans out of reach in the state. Cricket fans are being forced to pay 30 per cent tax including GST to watch the game.