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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker and former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad, who had demanded the scrapping of the Indian Premier League (IPL) following a series of controversies, has ended his sit-down fast here. "See, I feel that we have not yet got independence. I had given them a letter day before yesterday, and somebody came last evening, when it was only about ten hours from the function. After all, I have not harmed anyone, I have not raped anyone, I have not fixed anyone, I have only raised the issues and the weaknesses of the Delhi Police. And this is also a weakness of the Delhi Police, why didn't they arrest me. I was ready to be arrested," Azad told media at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here, where he was sitting on a fast. "So, how can you call it my fault? When they didn't give me permission, fair enough, I said I will come there and arrest me. They didn't arrest me. So, how is it my fault? Somebody should go and file a PIL in the court," he added. Azad will now raise this issue in Parliament tomorrow. Azad began his fast at gate number five of the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium earlier in the day, saying that he is not against the format of the game, but was not in tune with the recent incidents taking place outside the ground after IPL matches. "There is no transparency now. The discipline has also finished following the untoward incidents that take place outside the ground. Who is responsible for all this?" asked Azad "Just think, what impression would these (unpleasing incidents) be leaving on the minds of youngsters, who want to play cricket for the country in future. Is this the message we want to give to our people through the game of cricket? Why doesn't it take place in Test matches, ODI matches and even T20 World Cup matches? Why do we get to see it only here (in IPL). What have you exactly sold that you are quiet on the issue?" he added. Azad also sought an explanation from the finance ministry over alleged money-laundering cases linked to the IPL. "I would raise this issue again and again. We live in an independent India ," he added. Azad had earlier on Friday compared the IPL tournament to a fantastic cinema script, where there are both heroes and villains providing full entertainment to the viewers. The IPL over the last week has been caught in a slew of controversies. First, there was a sting operation done by a TV channel that showed IPL players indulging in spot fixing. Then Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan's ban from the Wankhede Stadium for five years following a scuffle with the guards. The latest controversy was the arrest and subsequent release of Royal Challengers Bangalore player Luke Pomersbach on charges of molesting an Indian-American woman at the ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel in Delhi.

Kirti Azad ends sit-down protest against IPL