War of words: Jaitley, Chidambaram spat over IPL move

New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram and BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley were on Monday locked in a war of words over IPL's decision to shift its Twenty20 cricket matches abroad with the saffron party leader saying an impression was going round that India, like Pakistan, has become an unsafe sporting venue.
Hitting back at Jaitley, Chidambaram said the BJP member was known to exaggerate but this time he had gone overboard.Jaitley, also the Delhi and District Cricket Association president, said the Home Ministry's refusal to assure security for the high-profile Twenty20 league has given the country a bad name.
"The impression which has gone is that India is not a safe destination for sporting events. Today, it's sporting events, tomorrow it maybe other events where crowds gather. It maybe some religious events like Kumbh Mela or Ajmer Sharif function," Jaitley said at a press conference here.
"Therefore the impression that India is a safe destination must be created. Country's activities don't come to a standstill merely because elections are being held.
"He must realise that it amounts to giving India a bad name, almost clubbing us with the image Pakistan has. He must concentrate on the job assigned to him," Jaitley said.
"I know that Jaitley has a penchant for exaggeration but because he also wears the cap of the President of the DDCA, he seems to have gone overboard this time," Chidambaram retorted.