Here we go again

The Senas workers even tried to target Delhis Kotla track before Pakistans 1999 tour of India,till its leadership was stared down politically. That is the catch. The Sena is in the business of wrecking the cricket calendar for very narrow political considerations. As a start,it would help if other political parties rebutted Thackerays sentiments; that it is an absurd justice thats premised on inflicting the kind of violence on others that is sought to be stopped against persons deemed to be ones own. And,at the least,the administration needs to make

a strong statement that such vandalism will not be permitted.

To have Mumbai off crickets map would be cruel. Cricket has always acknowledged the citys special place in the game. And most recently,barely a fortnight after 26/11,the English cricket team returned to India to complete a tour interrupted after the attack,with their captain making the point that life would go on. But like almost everyone else,sportspersons too these days are easily perturbed by the prospect of disruption and violence. This country cannot permit its territory to be off limits because of threats that are,in essence,racist.