"What can be more unfortunate & more shameful than this": Sports Minister over misuse of stadium by IAS couple

Pune, May 28: "What can be more unfortunate and more shameful than IAS officers making the athletes wait outside the stadium so that they can walk their dog inside the stadium?" said Union youth affairs and sports minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday.

 

The Union Minister was addressing a gathering in Pune as he inaugurated the Khashaba Jadhav Sports Complex at Savitribhai Phule Pune University. He said that the Centre took action against IAS officers Sanjeev Khirwar and Rinku Dugga who made the authorities of the Thyagraj Stadium vacate the stadium so that they could walk their dog.

 

 

"Delhi government did not take action against the IAS officers who were forcing athletes out of the stadium. The stadium was not opened for the athletes. But the Centre took action and made their transfers to distant places so that a clear message can be sent across that sports grounds are for the athletes," Anurag Thakur said.

 

 

"I am again saying that these grounds are for sportspersons. If your faculty members want to play on this 27-acre ground, they can, but please don't go to the synthetic track wearing slippers for your walk," the minister added. There has to be some rules and everyone should follow it, the minister said.

 

"If this indoor stadium is meant for badminton, then no shoes apart from the non-marking shoes will be allowed here," the minister warned. He also asked the preference should be given to sportspersons even if anybody irrespective of their age wants to train or play inside the stadium.