Jaipur: The Congress-ruled Rajasthan government has asked sportspersons to give affidavits, saying they have no link to either the RSS, which is the BJP's ideological mentor, or Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to qualify for the state's sports awards.
According to reports, weightlifter Vishal Singh was awarded Rs 2 lakh at a recent state sports awards function, but only after he gave an undertaking that he doesn't have any connection to either of the political parties.
The Rajasthan sports council says that it is only following the guidelines of the state government. Sports Minister Mangilal Garasiya claims that the rule has been there from 1986 and the government is implementing it now.
With state polls scheduled in Rajasthan later this year, the controversy has signs of turning into a huge political storm. The RSS has already begun protests in the state with party cadres holding a demonstration yesterday.
"We are also contemplating legal action against the sports council. Sports council is an autonomous body. It has no binding to follow illegal diktat of the government" he added.
The BJP, which was ousted from the state in the 2008 elections, too slammed the move with former Sports Minister Yunus Khan, saying, "There should not be this kind of politics with the sportspersons."
According to reports, weightlifter Vishal Singh was awarded Rs 2 lakh at a recent state sports awards function, but only after he gave an undertaking that he doesn't have any connection to either of the political parties.
The Rajasthan sports council says that it is only following the guidelines of the state government. Sports Minister Mangilal Garasiya claims that the rule has been there from 1986 and the government is implementing it now.
With state polls scheduled in Rajasthan later this year, the controversy has signs of turning into a huge political storm. The RSS has already begun protests in the state with party cadres holding a demonstration yesterday.
Advertisement
"We are also contemplating legal action against the sports council. Sports council is an autonomous body. It has no binding to follow illegal diktat of the government" he added.
Advertisement
The BJP, which was ousted from the state in the 2008 elections, too slammed the move with former Sports Minister Yunus Khan, saying, "There should not be this kind of politics with the sportspersons."
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Haryana Congress MLA Surender Panwar Arrested By Probe Agency ED In Mining Case Sold By Aunt, 14-Year-Old Turns Up At Rajasthan Police Station With Baby "World Has Realised India Has Roadmap To Peace, Happiness": RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Israeli Jets Strike Yemen Rebels After Deadly Attack On Tel Aviv Woman On Scooter With 2 Kids Punched, Left Bleeding In Pune Road Rage Case After Retest, Haryana NEET Centre With Most Top Scorers Gave This Result... 7 Bombs Defused In Imphal East District By Joint Army, Police Team 3.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Jammu And Kashmir 40 Killed In Rain-Related Incidents In Himachal Since Onset Of Monsoon Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.