Admires Khelo India, improvement in sports activities
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 8: Member of Parliament and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today corrected Union Minister Kiren Rijiju when the latter, while participating in No Confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha and highlighting achievements of the Government, claimed that mega sports event was held for the first time in Gulmarg by the incumbent Central Government.
Recalling the event when Khelo India Winter Games were held at Gulmarg by the Union Sports Ministry, which was being headed by him at that time, Kiren Rijiju narrated that a Legislator of Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference had become emotional and was in tears stating that such a mega sport activity was held for the first time in Gulmarg.
On this remark, Dr Farooq Abdullah stood up from his seat and corrected the Union Minister for Earth Science by reminding that first International Games in Gulmarg were held when Inder Kumar Gujral was the Prime Minister and he (Farooq) was the Chief Minister of J&K. Gulmarg has always been centre of sports, he added.
“I have no doubt that Khelo India has changed many aspects, but let us not say it was not done before. Now we see only improvement in the things being done,” said the National Conference MP virtually admiring the Government for brining improvement.
In response, Kiren Rijiju admitted that Farooq Abdullah might have hosted sports events since he had also remained a Minister in Centre, but, he insisted, there was neither regular sport activity nor fixed events were held.
However, Rijiju added, Khelo India event is hundred percent funded by the Government of India and it has generated an atmosphere of sports.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
