Delhi ODI faces new controversy

After the row over preparedness of Ferozeshah Kotla ground, the April 17 Indo-Pak one-day match is in for another controversy with allegations being levelled that a shrine had been damaged during the renovation of the stadium, a charge denied by Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

Making the matters serious, local MLA and Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal has threatened to disrupt the match scheduled to be watched by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf among others.

Iqbal claimed that the shrine, known as `Syed Sahab ki Dargah' and located under the old scoreboard of the stadium, was damaged during the renovation work two years back.

DDCA, which is carrying out the renovation of the stadium, denied the charge, saying no damage had been caused to the dargah and that it was in fact building a boundary wall around it to further protect it.

"The boundary wall and some other structures of the dargah have been broken," Iqbal said in New Delhi on Sunday.

The JD(S) MLA said he would organise demonstrations to protest the alleged damage to the shrine and could even move court to seek appropriate relief in the matter.

In September 2003, he said, he had met the area Deputy Commissioner of Police regarding the issue and that officials of the DDCA were also present at the meeting.

Iqbal said it was decided at the meeting that the boundary wall would be repaired and a separate access route would be built for people to go to the dargah, but the repair work has not even begun at the dargah.

"The dargah is at least 700-800 years old. People living in the area have a lot of faith in the place. Their sentiments should be heeded," Iqbal said.

"I would like to make it clear that the dargah has not been damaged in any way. No harm of any kind has been caused to the dargah during the renovation," DDCA Vice President Chetan Chauhan said.

He said the DDCA was building a compound wall as well as a separate access route for the dargah to secure it.

"We have given instructions to the contractor on what work has to be carried out," Chauhan said, adding the work has already started.

He said DDCA held a meeting with Iqbal a few days back, where the association's plans for the dargah were communicated to him, and claimed that the legislator agreed to it.

"We have full regard and respect for the dargah and don't want any harm to come to it. I am personally overseeing the work being carried out at the dargah," Chauhan said.