Coaches, support staff responsible for Phogat missing medal: Mann

Tribune News Service

Issru (Ludhiana), August 16

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday bemoaned that wrestler Vinesh Phogat missed the historic moment of bagging the medal in Paris Olympics due to callousness of the coaches and support staff.

He emphasised that the coaches and staff were duty bound to maintain wrestlers’ weight under prescribed norms as they get hefty salaries from the public exchequer. Mann said there was a serious lapse in this case, which has bruised the psyche of millions of sports lovers in the country.

He was interacting with the media after paying tribute to Karnail Singh Issru, the hero of Goa liberation, at a state-level function to mark the martyrdom day here.

On another query, he said he was always ready to welcome leaders of good stature and repute in the Aam Aadmi Party. He said two-time SAD MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, who has recently joined the party, was an honest mass leader.

Mann said the doors of the party were always open for the leaders who have a vision for development of the state and welfare of its people.

He said due to the pro-people policies of the state government, a reverse trend was being witnessed in the state. He said the government has given more than 44,000 jobs to youth in a transparent manner following which, the youngsters who had earlier moved abroad, were coming back to the state to get jobs. Mann said the educational institutions in the state have seen a huge surge in the admissions by the youth.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, the CM said in order to fulfill the aspirations of freedom fighters, the government was according top priority to the health and education sectors in the state.

He said to achieve this goal, the state government has given a facelift to the schools and hospitals across the state. He said while the schools have been equipped with the latest technology to impart quality education to the students, the infrastructure has been upgraded in the hospitals to ensure that the people get the best treatment. “Aam aadmi clinics and schools of eminence have transformed the destiny of people of state,” he claimed.

Mann said the problems like corruption and drugs have flourished in the state due to the patronisation by the previous governments. He said his government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards these maladies that have ruined the state. “The state government has already cracked the whip on the corrupt elements in the state and corruption has been weeded out of the state,” he asserted.

Mann said the life and sacrifice of these legendary martyrs was a source of inspiration for all. He recalled the stellar role of martyrs of the state in the national freedom movement. He said that it was a matter of great pride that Punjabis had played a leading role in the national freedom struggle.

Paying tributes to Issru, the CM said the martyr was the hero of the liberation of Goa from Portuguese imperialism.