It is now feared by senior politicians there that the decision to relocate the multi-million dollar IPL to either South Africa or England because the Government could not guarantee security because it clashed with the country's elections will send out the wrong message to countries who have already expressed concerns about the Commonwealth Games being held in New Delhi.

 

Arun Jaitley, the general secretary of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claimed the Government "non-co-operation" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will send the wrong signals to international community before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which is due to open on October 3 next year.

 

Safety has been a major worry after the attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai in November and an attack targeting the Sri Lankan cricket side in Pakistan this month that left eight people dead and eight people from the team wounded.

 

Jaitley said: "Has India become so unsecured that a domestic tournament has to go abroad?

 

"The whole country is disturbed with the non-co-operation by the Government, which will send wrong signals about India's security condition.

 

"We used to hear about security threats to sporting events in Pakistan, but now this is happening in India.

 

"This will surely give wrong signals.

"After this, how will we respond to foreign teams who will travel to the country and how will we convince the tourists and players that India is secured for the Delhi Commonwealth Games?"

 

Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat state, also joined in the condemnation.

 

He said: "Today our country stands defeated before terror.

 

"Most of the BJP ruled states had showed their willingness to host IPL matches.

 

"One can imagine the security preparedness of the UPA government ahead of the much awaited Commonwealth Games next year."