Bhupinder Hooda: Government’s policies discourage sportspersons

Targeting the BJP-JJP government, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here today said that the government’s “flip-flop sports policies” had resulted in discouragement among sportspersons in the state, known as the hub of India’s sports prowess. Addressing a gathering at a function to felicitate the world boxing champion Saweety Boora at her native Ghiray village here, Hooda alleged that this government’s “unsteady policy” had harmed the sports culture in Haryana. “During the Congress regime, I had honoured the sports achievers with the class I and class II jobs. But now, the government is offering class III and class IV jobs. I am pained at seeing such a scenario,” he said.

The former CM said players like Saweety Boora, who brought laurels to the country by winning medals in international sports, would be made DSPs when the Congress government was formed in the state. Saweety Boora had won a gold medal in the Women’s World Boxing Championships.

“During the Congress tenure, a sports policy was formulated to encourage the youths of Haryana towards sports and to encourage sportspersons. Under the ‘Padak Lao, Pad Pao’ policy, the government honoured more than 750 sportspersons by giving them direct appointments to government posts. Under the sports policy, players were given appointments on higher posts like the DSP. Along with this, a 3% quota was given to sportspersons in Group-C and Group-D jobs so that youths participating in sports do not feel insecure about their future and livelihood,” Hooda stated.

He alleged that the present government had stopped offering jobs like the DSP to players. “Moreover, sports quota in jobs is also almost abolished. The government is not maintaining sports stadiums that were built in every village during the Congress tenure. It is clear from the activities of the government that it wants to make Haryana’s youths drug addicts, not players,” he alleged. Later, the former CM also went to the dharna organised by the Road Bachao Sangharsh Samiti at Talwandi Rana village today and supported their demand for the construction of a road from Hisar to Talwandi Rana as per the demands of local residents.

Hooda also demanded judicial inquiry into the allegations of activities of the land mafia around the airport in Hisar.

Meanwhile, Hooda’s vehicle hit a blue bull (nilgai) near Matlauda village on the Barwala-Kheri Chopta road in Hisar. He escaped unhurt. The front side of the SUV was damaged. Later, CM Manohar Lal Khattar telephoned Hooda and enquired about his well-being.

Close shave for ex-cm as blue bull hits suv

Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday escaped unhurt after a blue bull (nilgai) hit his SUV near Matlauda village on the Barwala-Kheri Chopta road in Hisar district today. The front side of the SUV was damaged. After the mishap, Hooda took another vehicle to reach his scheduled programmes. Later, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar telephoned Hooda and enquired about his well-being.