Bangalore shrugs off row over cheerleaders
Friday, 25 April 2008, 19:30 IST
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Bangalore: Bangaloreans seemed hardly interested in the controversy over cheerleaders' performances at India Premier League (IPL) matches, and said a "big fuss" was being made over nothing. Political parties were disinterested in making any comments on the issue as most of them were busy with preparations for the upcoming assembly polls. Vijay Mallya's United Breweries, which had flown in cheerleaders from the U.S., said they would "follow the rule of the land". "We have no other comment to make on the issue," a spokesperson of Mallya's firm said. Mallya owns the Bangalore Royal Challengers team led by former India captain Rahul Dravid. A city police officer requesting anonymity said they had not issued any instructions to the organisers about cheerleaders' performances. "We have not received any complaints and have no information whether any group is planning a protest against the cheerleaders," he said. But he added that the police were ready to tackle any law and order problem, if the need arises. Former and current cricketers were unwilling to comment as they said it would unnecessarily add to the controversy. S. Sandhya, a college student and cricket enthusiast, said majority of the people go to watch the game and not the cheerleaders. "There is nothing in their dance. They just gyrate to the fast tracks and often their performance does not last even a minute. There is no reason to make a big fuss about it," she said. Said Krishna Kumar, who watched the inaugural match with his wife and sons: "Twenty20 is entertaining cricket. We were engrossed in the match and not the brief gyrating of the skimpily clad cheerleaders. It makes no sense to kick up a huge controversy over the cheerleaders presence." But M. Muniyappa, a 30-year-old government employee, said bringing cheerleaders was a waste of money. "Their presence in no way adds to the entertainment value." K. Sathyakumari, a housewife, said the cheerleaders' clothes were skimpy, but worst dresses were seen on TV. "It would be better if organisers abandoned such entertainment, but it is meaningless to turn it into a controversy," she said.
Source: IANS
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