Deepender slams BJP govt after players’ deaths, seeks Rs 1-crore aid, govt jobs

Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Haryana Government, alleging that “collapsed and neglected” sports infrastructure had led to the recent deaths of two basketball players during practice sessions in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh.

Addressing the media at the residence of party leader Yogender Rana, Hooda demanded Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for one member of each bereaved family.

“The Haryana Sports Minister’s visit to meet the victim families was nothing but formality, without a single concrete announcement. I demand Rs 1 crore financial aid and government job for each family,” Hooda said.

He stressed the deaths should not be treated as road accidents. “The players did not die in a road accident but they lost their lives due to the dilapidated sports infrastructure, for which the government must be held accountable,” he said.

The MP also sought a criminal negligence case against officials for failing to utilise Rs 18.5 lakh he had sanctioned from his MPLADS fund for stadium maintenance.

Recalling the Congress government’s contribution, Hooda said, “The Congress government had constructed 481 sports stadiums in rural and urban areas in the name of Rajiv Gandhi. Instead of allocating adequate funds for the maintenance of these stadiums, it is unfortunate that the Government of India has allocated only Rs 80 crore from its Rs 3,500 crore sports budget to Haryana, a state known as a mine of sports. This is an insult to the athletes and medals of our state.”

He further accused the government of ignoring repeated concerns about the poor state of sports facilities. “Despite repeated questions raised about the dilapidated sports system, the government remained silent. The CM must take responsibility for this negligence and provide justice to the families of these players,” Hooda said.

Criticising the BJP’s approach toward athletes, he said, “The BJP government has neglected the interests of Haryana's athletes. During the Congress government's tenure, the 3 per cent sports quota in Group C and D was abolished. Players were denied promotions and cash awards from 2021 onwards. During the Congress government, cash awards were also given to junior, sub-junior and youth game players.”

Hooda termed Haryana’s sports framework “destroyed in the past 11 years”, claiming the state received the lowest Khelo India allocation among 28 states, despite producing the highest number of medals.

He also questioned the move to allow Gujarat to host events for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India. “If merit mattered, Haryana should have been chosen. Gujarat’s name seems to have emerged from a slip, not merit,” he said, asserting the Games should be hosted in NCR states or in Haryana and Punjab, “which have a long contribution in sports medals.”