Haryana minister Anil Vij addressing an Independence Day event organised in Rio.
Haryana Minister Anil Vij, the latest politician to join the non-playing Indian contingent at the Rio Olympics, put out a clarification today after being derided in newspaper reports for claiming that he wanted to "stand with" players from his state but skipping their events.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
Mr Vij, 63, had tweeted before leaving that he is "leading a contingent to Olympics to encourage the Haryana players".
The Haryana delegation, however, skipped the quarterfinal boxing match of Vikas Krishan, a state police officer, and the events of discus thrower Seema Antil and wrestler Ravinder Khatri.
"That is right. We could not attend yesterday matches because despite our best efforts we could not get yesterday tickets though we have tickets of all other Indian events," said the minister in a statement on Wednesday evening.
He also claimed that he was held back because boxer Manoj Kumar and his brother came to meet him to share their concerns about their parents being harassed by ruffians back in India. "I had to spend some time to listen to (Manoj Kumar's) grievances," the minister said in his detailed explanation.
Mr Vij also defended his business class travel to Rio, saying he is entitled to it. "A junket is for khane-peene vaalon, we are daal roti eating people and here even that is difficult to get," he responded in Hindi to criticism about his five-star trip.
Though the minister was spotted nowhere near the sporting events, he is seen in a video addressing a group of Indians during an Independence Day celebration organised in Rio.
Flanked by a lawmaker and a bureaucrat who traveled with him, Mr Vij said to the gathering: "Our players are doing a great job to take the name of our nation to the top. Many achievements we have achieved and we are going to achieve many more achievements."
Mr Vij's trip as part of an eight-member delegation will cost Haryana one crore rupees, according to reports. The minister had cancelled his Rio visit in July because of the assembly session. Soon after the session was postponed, Mr Vij left for Brazil "despite being sick", as he claims.
The antics of other politicians including Sports Minister Vijay Goel in Rio have provoked sharp criticism. Mr Goel was last week admonished by the International Olympic Committee for violating rules during the Games and entering areas which are off limits for non-participants.
Over 40 officials are in Rio as guests of the Indian Olympic Association, a government body. Haryana politician Abhay Chautala, the corruption-accused former president of the association, has also been sighted at Rio.
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