LUCKNOW: To protest against ruling BJP’s apathy towards sports and sportspersons, Samajwadi Party on Sunday organised a sit-in ‘Khiladi Ghera’ at district headquarters across the state on the occasion of National Sports Day held every year in memory of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary.
As a part of the sit-in the party held a discussion with senior state and national level sportspersons at Major Dhyan Chand stadium in Jhansi. Party leaders interacted with sportspersons and budding players who aired grievances like lack of infrastructure and other facilities at stadiums. The players also aired their concern over the manner in which the hostel facility was closed down during Covid-19 lockdown, but has not been started again in full throttle at various sports hostels.
In Lucknow, SP national president Akhilesh targeted the BJP government for neglecting sports and young players as well. “There is resentment among sportspersons over the manner in which the ruling BJP had treated sports and sportspersons. During the SP regime the government got a world class stadium built in Lucknow. Stadiums were also built in several other districts to encourage sportspersons and offer better facilities to budding players,” Akhilesh said. The former UP CM attacked the ruling BJP for not paying any attention to the needs of the sportspersons.
Apart from Jhansi, ‘Khiladi Ghera’ was also held in Lucknow, at Bhamashah stadium in Meerut, Vishwaharsh Kisan PG College in Basti and Prabhu Park in Kasganj.
