The Union Home Ministry today held a video conference with senior officials of the states where Indian Premier League (IPL) matches are scheduled to be played next month following their demand for central forces to host the cricketing tournament.
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta held consultations with seven states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal during which he was apprised of the security problems for hosting the mega-event.
The states are understood to have again told the Home Ministry during the 90-minute video conference that it was not possible to hold the Twenty20 matches without additional security personnel from the central grid.
Barring Tamil Nadu, all other states have agreed to host the matches with a rider that at least five to six companies (500-600 personnel) of para-military forces are kept at the disposal of the state police for security related issues, the sources said. Tamil Nadu has outrightly rejected the proposal to host the matches in the state.
After eliciting the view of the states, Gupta held a meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram who will take a final call on the tournament beginning on April 10.
Concerned over availability of paramilitary forces in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Home Ministry had sent a revised schedule to the states concerned on March seven avoiding the polling dates.