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[Libran]

New Delhi: IPL is in the midst of a controversy, but the latest storm has got nothing to do with cricket. It's all about the cheerleaders who are now being caught in a moral debate between Maharashtra's politicians.

The state's BJP says that the cheerleaders are no better than bar dancers. In fact, BJP Maharashtra President, Nitin Gadkari raised the matter in the state Legislature, saying that the Maharashtra government has double standards.

He wanted to know why the state government banned bar dancers but allowed cheerleaders on the cricket field.

"R R Patil of the NCP is taking a moral stand on the issue of bar dancers saying it is immoral. Then how can they freely allow such cheerleaders to participate in these matches with vulgar dance moves? Isn't this immoral also? And what are they going to do about this? I want RR Patil to respond to this," he said.

In response to this, R R Patil has said that the matter will be investigated into and appropriate action will be taken.

Meanwhile, actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha also lashed out at organisers of IPL matches for bringing cheer girls to the stadiums and making a "mockery" of cricket.

"If you are so interested in deploying these cheer girls who dance after hits of fours and sixes, it is better to give chance to the bar girls who have been rendered unemployed after Maharashtra government put a ban on the dance in bars," Sinha was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

"I am afraid that cricket, which has been shortened from five days to one day and now to the T 20 format, might be reduced to 'Toss-Toss'      in which the winner will be decided through toss," he added sarcastically.

Earlier Shatrughan Sinha had also taken exception to the auctioning of players for the IPL tournament

http://ibnlive.com/news/ipl-cheerleaders-like-bar-dancers-bjp-leader/63872-3.html

[TheChowmeinWarrior]

load of tosh...there hasnt been anything vulgar or suggestive about their dancing, nor have there been any crowd troubles because of them. Only these horny, old buzzards have a problem with them..

oh and the Mumbai Indians..why would they have male dancers in spandex? ahhhh!!my eyes!

[gouravk]

oh why have male dancers at all

[LosingNow]

load of tosh...there hasnt been anything vulgar or suggestive about their dancing, nor have there been any crowd troubles because of them. Only these horny, old buzzards have a problem with them..

(Those who don't get it, yell the loudest)
--
Political moral brigade target cheerleaders
Yogita Limaye
CNN-IBN
CHEERS AND JEERS: Maharashtra Govt plans to put restrictions on cheer girls performing during IPL games.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government has asked Indian Premier League (IPL) team franchisees to apply for permits before cheerleaders can be allowed to perform in Mumbai.

The move came as a response to politicians who alleged the cheerleaders were “vulgar”.

“They will first have to take our permission. We will allow them on the condition that there’s nothing vulgar in their performance,” said Home Department Minister Siddharam Mehtre.

Opposition leaders in the legislature on Wednesday said that if bar dancers were banned for promoting immorality then cheerleaders were no less obscene.

“The way the cheerleaders dance in the cricket match is very vulgar. It is even worse than the bar dancers. NCP, especially R R Patil, should say whether they are going to ban the cheerleaders or not,” said BJP president, Maharashtra Nitin Gadkari.

This isn't the first time that Maharashtra politicians have played moral police.

From the ban on bar dancers, to the opposition to public display of affection and now the restrictions against cheerleader, Maharashtra slowly seems to be acquiring the reputation of being an intolerant state.

But the average citizen of Maharashtra doesn't seem to be bothered by these cheerleaders.

“Everyone here is mature enough to understand their morality. It doesn’t need to be forced down our throats,” an angry IPL follower said.

Terming it is “merely entertainment,” some even argue that applying the same logic, Bollywood item numbers should be banned too.

But actor Shah Rukh Khan, who owns the IPL Kolkata Knight Rider team, prefers to toe the diplomatic line.

“If there has been somebody's stand that it should not be done we should look at it again and fully respect it. As a filmmaker, as an actor and as a cricket team owner, I have never believed that I need to sell something in a derogatory way to make it popular,” he said.

So while the game takes a back seat in the face of this controversy, cheerleaders just seem to have become a soft target for moral policing politicians.

[pipsqueak]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment?

[RicePlateReddy]

As a filmmaker, as an actor and as a cricket team owner, I have never believed that I need to sell something in a derogatory way to make it popular,” he said.

HA HA HA HA HA! SRK has never seen Hindi movies.

[LosingNow]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment?

Any suggestions?

Bharatnatyam during Chennai matches and Kuchipudi during DC matches?

[RicePlateReddy]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment - why just ape the west?

Pipsqueak, seriously, I feel that the reason they are doing this is because they can get away with displays of more skin, cleavage and thighs this way -- by implication that "this is part of accepted professional sports practice in leagues in the US, so what is the big deal". Bollywood type vulgarity in a sports setting will be a first, will be more provocative, and is not as easy to push.

Sex-appeal is a guaranteed way to get more eyeballs. These cheerleaders complete the gonzo image of 20-20.

[dextrous]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment?

Any suggestions?

Bharatnatyam during Chennai matches and Kuchipudi during DC matches?

 

[RicePlateReddy]

Given their recent performance, I think the Deccan Chargers should be sponsored by Viagra.

[LosingNow]

Given their recent performance, I think the Deccan Chargers should be sponsored by Viagra.

From Viagra website..
#  You must be aroused for VIAGRA to work
# VIAGRA usually works in about 30 minutes
---
30 minutes = 7-8 overs. What will they do in power play?

[pipsqueak]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment?

Any suggestions?

Bharatnatyam during Chennai matches and Kuchipudi during DC matches?

i am sure you can have non-classical indian dance forms - say bhangra, dabbankuthu etc. gyrating hips and cleavage isn't the only way is it?

skimpily clad cheerleaders are quintessentially american. they even had indian men cheer-leaders jumping around with pom-poms the other day. how much siller can it all get?

[pipsqueak]

morality or not, i think the imported cheerleaders look remarkably silly and out of place. why can't we come up with our own version of entertainment - why just ape the west?

Pipsqueak, seriously, I feel that the reason they are doing this is because they can get away with displays of more skin, cleavage and thighs this way -- by implication that "this is part of accepted professional sports practice in leagues in the US, so what is the big deal". Bollywood type vulgarity in a sports setting will be a first, will be more provocative, and is not as easy to push.

Sex-appeal is a guaranteed way to get more eyeballs. These cheerleaders complete the gonzo image of 20-20.

i guess so - i find it jarring. it is not the morality part that bothers me but the whole thing seems a misfit. it is "indian" premier league after-all and why not cash in on something indian!