Haryana CM Khattar puts hold on controversial sports notification after athletes express disappointment
Chandigarh, June 9: The Haryana Government has called for a major outrage from its athletes as they have expressed extreme disappointment towards the State Governments decision. The Haryana government notification seeking the sportsperson in the state to deposit 1/3rd of their earning to the sports department has been put on hold.
The Haryana government has asked sportspersons to deposit one-third of their income earned from professional sports or commercial endorsements to the Haryana State Sports Council.
The Haryana government has decided its controversial notification which stated any athlete employed with the state government will have to pay 33 percent of his/her professional earning or commercial endorsements will be put on hold.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar took to Twitter to clear this issue. He tweeted, "I have asked for the relevant file of Sports Department to be shown to me & the notification dated 30th April to be put on hold till further orders. We are proud of the immense contribution by our sportspersons & I assure them of a just consideration of all issues affecting them."
The notification dated 30 April has been signed by Principal Secretary to Haryana government, Dr. Ashok Khemka.
The notification stated, "One-third of the income earned by the sportsperson from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council. The money shall be used for the development of sports in the State. In case the sportsperson is treated on duty with the prior approval of the competent authority while taking part in professional sports or commercial endorsements, the full income earned by the sportsperson on this account will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council."
The decision to hold the controversial notification comes after many athletes argued against the government's decision. Sakshi Malik, a Bronze medalist in Women's wrestling 58 kg category in the 2016 Summer Olympics, was disappointed by this decision. Opposing the state governments’ decision, Wrestler Sushil Kumar, Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat came forward expressing their disappointment on this decision and claimed it to be unfair on their part.
Haryana has been gifted with bright and rising athletes who have won many medals for the country. Most of the athletes winning medals on the international dais have come from Haryana, India’s sports nursery.