State govt. seeks affidavits from sportsmen declaring they have no links with RSS
RAJASTHAN government mixed politics in sports too by seeking affidavits from every awardee stating they have no association with the RSS and Jamat-e-Islami. More than 300 sportspersons were given out cash award in Jaipur’s SMS Stadium on April 12 for excelling at the State level championships. But the Rajasthan Sports Council says they have only followed government guidelines.
Rs 2.26 crore doled out to the sportspersons. Rs 1 lakh were presented to first position holders, Rs 50,000 to second and Rs 20,000 to third position holders. Reacting to the controversy, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said: “We strongly condemn this vindictive attitude of the Rajasthan Government and the Congress. Unless they said organisations are banned, Rajasthan government’s decision to take up such affidavits from the sportspersons is totally unconstitutional, vindictive and politically motivated. Congress should not bring its politics and personal vendetta in the field of sports.”
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists staged a demonstration at SMS Stadium during the award distribution ceremony and engaged in a scuffle with policemen who tried to stop them. They alleged that the ruling Congress insulted the players and undermined their contribution. Coming to the defence of RSS, the BJP accused the ruling Congress of indulging in “vendetta politics” with an eye on the Assembly elections scheduled for later this year. BJP spokesperson Kailash Nath Bhatt said the RSS was devoted to the service of the nation and it would be wrong to describe it as a communal outfit. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.
(FOC)
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