VD Satheesan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Congress veteran and Opposition leader VD Satheesan targeted sports minister Abdurahiman over the small crowds at the Green field stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Satheesan’s attack came as India Vs Sri Lanka cricket match attracted less people to the stadium, despite being a Sunday.
“Never again question self-esteem of Malayalis,” Satheesan noted in his Facebook post. With that, he took a dig at the sports minister’s recent statement: those starving need not go and watch the match—which received flak from various quarters.
The stadium which has a capacity of 55,000 spectators is said to have recorded an attendance of less than 10,000 people during the final game of the 3-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka.
Stating that the BCCI would be apprised about the low turnout, KCA president Jayesh George said the association would also "communicate with the minister to remove his misunderstanding".
Speaking to media persons earlier about the match ticket sales, Abdulrahiman said: "What is the need of reducing the tax? The demand is that the country is witnessing price rise, so the tax should be reduced. Those who are starving need not go and watch the match."
The KCA president, however, said that the CBSE examinations as well as the Pongal festival could have been the other factors that would have led to the low turnout in the match, while not sounding much appreciative of the Minister's remarks.
When the match began at the Greenfield International Stadium at, a turnout of only 7,000 people was reported.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and the BJP have come out strongly against the statement of the minister.
With IANS inputs
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