A pro-Tamil outfit on Monday threatened to organise protests outside the venue of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match to be played in Chennai on Tuesday.

T Velmurugan, the chief of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK), said members of his outfit would picket the MA Chidambaram stadium if the IPL matches were not moved out of Chennai as a mark of protest over the Cauvery water issue.

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“If the match is held despite our plea, we will coordinate all democratic forces to stop it by organising a massive picketing protest. Many leaders, organisations will participate,” said Velmurugan.

“The cricketers who know Tamil, please understand our sentiments,” he added.

In what appears to be a clear message to the players, Velmurugan reportedly said the outfit knows which hotel the players are staying put.

“Lakhs of youth in Tamil Nadu are in great anger. You will leave the hotel for shopping or sight-seeing. If there is even a small untoward incident, beyond the democratic forces, if you face any problems- Velmurugan, TVK or those protesting for Cauvery rights are in no way related,” The News Minute quoted him as saying at the Press Club in Chennai.

Velmurugan, however, added that his party and the outfits that had joined hands with it were not against the players.

As the city gears up for its first match of the ongoing tournament, the demand for shifting the IPL out of the state has come from nearly every opposition political party as well as film personalities.

Superstar Rajinikanth, who is making his foray into politics, said on Sunday that players from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should at least wear black bands to show solidarity with those protesting over the Cauvery water issue.

Read More: Rajinikanth urges PM Modi to ‘immediately’ form the Cauvery Management Board

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “immediately” constitute the Cauvery management Board (CMB), Rajinikanth said that the sporting event will come as an “embarrassment while people are going thirsty”.

But IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said the matches would be played as per schedule, adding that the event should “not be dragged into political controversies”.

CSK CEO KS Viswanathan, too, said that the team’s home matches will go on as per schedule. Security has been stepped up for the players and a heavy police contingent has been deployed outside the cricket stadium.

The ruling AIADMK government said that the party was not against the IPL and did not support any form of violence.

The Supreme Court on Monday gave the Centre time till 3 May to submit a draft scheme for the sharing of the Cauvery water between Tamil nadu and Karnakata.

Read More: Supreme Court tells Centre to submit Cauvery draft scheme by 3 May

Pulling up the Centre for failing to form the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within the six-week deadline given to it, the apex court asked why the NDA government brought its questions and doubts over the 16 February judgment at the last moment.

In its judgment, the apex court had directed the Centre to form the CMB by 29 March and increased the share of water for Karnataka while telling the state government to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the order.

MS Dhoni-led CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), captained by Dinesh Karthik, will lock horns in the first game in Chennai tomorrow at 8 PM.

CSK will be playing three other games at Chepauk before May 3.