India-England Tests in Chennai to be played behind closed doors
Chennai: The first two Tests of the upcoming India-England series will be played at the M A Chidambaram Stadium behind closed doors, a top official from host association TNCA said on Friday.
According to Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) secretary R S Ramasaamy, the two Tests would be played without spectators as per a BCCI directive, considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
"Yes...crowd will not be allowed for the two Test matches as a preventive measure in view of the virus situation," he told PTI.
Also, a circular dated January 20 has been sent out to TNCA members saying that the decision to play the matches behind closed doors was taken along with the BCCI.
"In view of the prevailing COVID pandemic, the BCCI has decided not to take any kind of risk with the safety of the players during the forthcoming India-England Test series," the circular read.
"As per the BCCI directive, the first two Test matches between February 5 and February 17 being held at M A Chidambaram stadium will take place behind closed doors (No Spectators/Guests/Sub-Committee Members) as a preventive measure," it added.
The teams are expected to reach Chennai by January 27 and undergo testing before entering the bio-bubble.
It must be noted that the Indian government had recently announced that outdoor sporting events could be conducted with 50 per cent spectators after following the standard operating procedures.
The first Test is scheduled from February 5.
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Bill to prevent hate speech and hate crime tabled in Karnataka assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka government on Wednesday tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill in the state Assembly.
The bill has a provision for a fine up to Rs one lakh and a jail term up to 10 years.
The bill was cleared by the state cabinet on December 4.
According to the bill, any expression, which is made, published or circulated in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest is hate speech.
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Any biases on the grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe has also been categorised as hate speech.
The 'Hate Crime' has been defined as communication of hate speech, by making, publishing or circulating or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting or abetting or attempting, such hate speech, to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against any person dead or alive or group of persons or organisation.
Communicating hate speech has been defined as expression, made in public view, by way of verbal, print, publication, electronic means, or other means to convey such expression.
Whoever commits hate crime will be punished with imprisonment for a term which should not be less than one year, but may extend to seven years with a fine of Rs 50,000.
Further, for any subsequent or repetitive offences the punishment should not be less than two years which may extend to 10 years with fine of Rs one lakh.
