New Delhi,26 Apr:It’s time some officials come out of the stone age and change with the times. Cheergirls entertain and that’s what this tournament is all about.With or without cheerleaders, the glamour quotient would still have been there in IPL courtesy Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Katrina Kaif. But why target the cheergirls?In what way are they vulgar? The ministers and other officials need to get off their high horse and see the real picture. The very Bollywood stars who own or support the teams show much more skin in their films. And, the very same officials may be queuing up for tickets to their films. Then why the double standards?By the same yardstick, fashion shows across the country may soon have to be banned. Models, a lot of them foreign imports, display all sorts of sensuous designer wear on the ramp. It’s all in the interest of creativity and business. After all, India is emerging as a strong player in the global fashion world. So, do these officials plan to put a stop to all fashion shows?
It’s high time we learn something from sport in the western world. Teams of the American National Football League (NFL) and even in baseball have highly-qualified cheerleading squads who undergo tough training regimens and even have high-profile national cheering contests. They form an integral part of the sports teams and do their bit to egg on the crowd.
Banning such entertainment not only portrays a poor image of India, showing us as backward and orthodox, but also affects TV ratings.Yes, the one concern is safety of the cheergirls. Because they often find themselves the target of boorish behaviour from the crowd. Catcalls and lewd comments aside, these girls are also at risk from the intoxicated crowd and the organizers need to ensure their safety during matches. But, please, don’t ban them.
Here’s a message for those officials still living in the stone age. Cheergirls cheer. It’s their job. Sit back and enjoy the show.