Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar strongly supported coach Greg Chappell in the ongoing controversy triggered by the latter's remarks on parliamentarians, and accused television channels of "instigating" Members of Parliament.
He said Chappell's comments were misinterpreted and the controversy was a result of provocative journalism.
"He (Chappell) hasn't said anything like this," Pawar, also the Union Agriculture Minister, said when told that Chappell had said that MPs get paid to make comments.
"I am glad that most of the news channels are providing subject to parliament... I know that there is an instigation from most of the channel owners and they are instigating MPs... (this is what) many MPs told me.
"But members are not going to act as per the advice of channelwallahs. These are not issues which one can discuss in parliament.
"This is a game and one should not give disproportionate importance to it."
Reacting to concerns expressed by various political leaders on India's poor performance in South Africa, Chappell is reported to have said, 'I am not surprised. That is what they are paid for to do in parliament.'
The former Australia captain's comments, which came at a press conference after India's 106-run loss in the third one-dayer in Cape Town on Sunday, evoked strong reaction from MPs, with one even threatening a privilege motion against him.
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