Those starving need not go to watch India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI: Kerala Minister sparks controversy

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 9: Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman - who has been facing criticism for exorbitant ticket rates for the upcoming ODI between India and Sri Lanka - courted a big controversy with his comments that those who cannot afford need not go to watch the match.

The minister made the controversial remarks on Sunday (January 8) when reporters asked him whether the state government would consider withdrawing the alleged decision to hike the entertainment tax to be levied on the spectators.

"What is the need of reducing the tax? The demand is that the country is witnessing the phenomenon of price rise so the tax should be reduced. Those who are starving need not go to watch the match," the minister said.

Opposition Congress and the BJP came down heavily on the minister for his controversial remarks against the poor, saying a public servant should not have made such a statement.

Slamming the minister, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan on Monday (January 9) said the people were "shocked" to hear such a "rude and absurd statement" from a minister in the state's democratically elected Communist government.

"The Chief Minister should not allow the minister to sit on that chair even for an hour. What does the CPI(M), which claims to be a party for the poor, have to say about this?" Satheesan asked.

BJP state president K Surendran urged the government to withdraw the "steep increase" in entertainment tax being levied for the India-Sri Lanka ODI match. The minister's statement that only those with money should watch the game is an "insult" to sports lovers, he said.

"The sudden hike in entertainment tax from five to 12 per cent is beyond the reach of cricket fans in the state. The cricket lovers are forced to pay 30 per cent tax including GST to watch the game," Surendran said.

The government, however, rejected the reports that excess tax was being levied on people to watch the match. In a statement, state Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh said the entertainment tax was actually reduced from a higher rate to 12 per cent.

He said the tax rate was fixed after holding discussions with the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), who are the organisers. Against this backdrop, the KCA has started selling tickets for the match scheduled to be held here on January 15.

(With PTI inputs)