After Promising A Farmer-Friendly IPL, Chairman Rajeev Shukla Gets Trolled On Opening Night
Indian Premier League 2016 opened tonight in Mumbai with much fanfare amid glittering performances from Bollywood and international artists. IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla vowed that the cash-rich league will do whatever it can to work for the welfare of farmers who have been bogged down with drought. Three cities in Maharashtra - Mumbai Pune and Nagpur - are scheduled to host 19 matches in total this edition.
Indian Premier League 2016 opened tonight in Mumbai with much fanfare amid glittering performances from Bollywood and international artists. Even as those who are involved directly with the league, the players, captains, support staffs, the organisers, team owners etc had their spirits high for the event, an air of opposition kept mounting in the backdrop of the severe water crisis in the state of Maharashtra.
(Also read: Maharashtra CM Wants IPL Shifted Out Of State, Says Can't Provide Potable Water)
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla vowed that the cash-rich league will do whatever it can to work for the welfare of farmers who have been bogged down with drought. "The IPL and BCCI are committed to the welfare of the farmers. We will do whatever is suggested to us. We will co-operate with whatever is told to us." Three cities in the state - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - are scheduled to host 19 matches in total this edition.
Opening ceremony of the @IPL 9. @imVkohli @ImZaheer @msdhoni @ImRo45 @ShuklaRajiv @davidwarner31 @GautamGambhir 1/2 pic.twitter.com/O5gxEqXpmC
¡ª Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) April 8, 2016
Shukla further said the perception of IPL being an entertainment show was wrong. "Whatever people may see, I still believe that IPL is serious cricket. It's not just entertainment. Most of the games finish in the last over. Lot many budding talent are discovered by IPL, the world has seen that. This edition will be a better one than the previous editions. IPL is growing every year," he said.
But then it didn't take long for twitterati to react to Shukla's speech both in humour and sarcasm.
Rajiv shukla says will help farmers.. Better they could have paid Katrina's money to them.worst performance #iplopeningceremony
¡ª Sadashiva D M (@sadashaiva) April 8, 2016
Three guarantees in life:
¡ª Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) April 8, 2016
Death,
Taxes,
Rajiv Shukla memorizing his speech. #IPL
IPL ceremony ruined by the mere presence of Penguin Rajiv Shukla #iplopeningceremony
¡ª Geeta Sharma (@lexingtondecor) April 8, 2016
.@Babu_Bhaiyaa Overweight 'Samosa' Rajeev Shukla himself standing on stage is the most insulting thing to famine affected starving farmers.
¡ª Optimist (@DesiOptimystic) April 8, 2016
Rajeev Shukla is Lord Varys of BCCI #iplopeningceremony
¡ª Chandler (@gibberish_talks) April 8, 2016
Really don't know why @GautamGambhir & @imVkohli was laughing. Do you know Mr. @ShuklaRajiv? #iplopeningceremony pic.twitter.com/Mr2rmLbHsJ
¡ª Mansing Bhor (@MansingBhor) April 8, 2016
Ustaad Rajiv Shukla Ali Khan performing at #IPLOpeningCeremony #IPL2016 pic.twitter.com/UMxsc1TqXO
¡ª Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 8, 2016
1/2 of Tanmay Bhat. #iplopeningceremony pic.twitter.com/8ZtsoLaGBs
¡ª ??? ?????????? (@abdullah_0mar) April 8, 2016
