New Delhi: In a brazen abuse of power and gross neglect of athletes and sporting fraternity, a Delhi stadium has come at the centre of controversy for giving ‘preferential treatment’ to a senior bureaucrat over sportspersons.
The Thyagraj stadium, operated by Delhi government, has reportedly been asking sportspersons to vacate the stadium so that senior IAS officer could go for an evening walk, along with his pet.
According to Indian Express, athletes & coaches in Delhi govt-run Thyagraj stadium have repeatedly been told to wrap up their training earlier than usual time i.e. 7 PM. And, the reason being cited is the empty sports complex will make the place available for Delhi Principal Secretary (Revenue) Sanjeev Khirwar’s evening walk. The senior babu in Delhi administration often takes his dog along at the sporting facility during the walk.
The leading daily reports that sportspersons were complaining about this and when its team visited the complex, it saw stadium guards blowing whistles & alerting all to vacate the premises by 7 PM. It also spoke to IAS officer, who denied that it was done to facilitate his evening walk.
People outraged, vent their anger
As the news broke, several people took to Twitter and vented their anger & frustration over babudom & red tapism in the government machinery that ails India’s growth. A couple of users took satirical jibes at the officer.
Congress leader Manish Tewari took to Twitter and wondered what happens in those cities with DC.
If this is what goes on in Delhi imagine what it must be like in the Districts where the DC & SSP believe they are lords and masters of all they survey.@DrJitendraSingh MOS Personnel must make an example out of this officer if this story is correct ??https://t.co/WPcz7Iq7fi
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) May 26, 2022
Delhi govt faces ire
As the sports facility is under control of Delhi govt and also Mr Khirwar is the top bureaucrat in Delhi govt, the latter draw fire from all quarters for letting the system taken for granted.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tweeted that all sports facilities will remain open till 10 PM now onwards.
“CM @ArvindKejriwal has directed that all Delhi Govt sports facilities to stay open for sportsmen till 10pm (sic),” Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.
News reports have brought to our notice that certain sports facilities are being closed early causing inconvenience to sportsmen who wish to play till late nite. CM @ArvindKejriwal has directed that all Delhi Govt sports facilities to stay open for sportsmen till 10pm pic.twitter.com/LG7ucovFbZ
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) May 26, 2022
