Function for CWG medal winners: Haryana draws flak

CHANDIGARH - Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Saturday accused the Congress-led Haryana government of trying to take undue political mileage from a function planned for Commonwealth Games (CWG) medallists from the state.

The government is organising “Chak de Haryana - Chak de India” function in Sonepat town Nov 1 to honour the medal winners.

“The Congress government is politicising the issue of sportspersons. Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda should organise a function at his residence to honour the players,” said INLD secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala here Saturday.

“But they are organising a political rally. Their intention is not to honour the players, but to indulge in vote-bank politics. We strongly condemn this,” said Chautala, son of INLD chief and former chief minister Om Parkash Chautala.

Sportspersons from Haryana won 32 medals out of India’s total 101 in the Games.

The government has announced that players from the state winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the CWG would get cash rewards of Rs.15 lakh, Rs.10 lakh and Rs.7 lakh, respectively.

Haryana players will also get Maruti-Suzuki cars from Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) which has its factory in Gurgaon.

Each gold medal winner will get an SX-4 car (priced at over Rs.8 lakh), silver medal winners would get Maruti Dzire (Rs.6 lakh) and bronze medal winners would get a Wagon-R car (Rs.3.5 lakh).

“The extraordinary performance of sportspersons is because of the sports policy that was drafted by INLD, during its tenure. But now the Congress government is taking all the credit,” said Chautala.

“We will organise a special function on Jan 1, next year, to honour the medallists of the CWG and those who would win medals at the upcoming Asian Games (scheduled next month in China),” said Chautala.