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Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Haryana government, holding it “directly responsible” for the deaths of two young basketball players during practice sessions in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh. The Hooda duo alleged that the tragedy was the result of the government’s “gross negligence” and the crumbling state of sports infrastructure.
Addressing the media, they demanded Rs 1 crore financial assistance and a government job for one family member of each deceased player as immediate relief. They criticised the state government for announcing only Rs 5 lakh compensation, calling it “highly inadequate.”
“The visit of the Haryana Sports Minister to the victims’ families was nothing more than a formality. There was no concrete announcement. We demand Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for each affected family,” Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.
‘Dilapidated Sports System’
Rejecting the government’s attempt to project the deaths as accidental, Hooda said, “These players did not lose their lives in road accidents. They died because of the state’s dilapidated sports system. The government must be held accountable for this tragic negligence.”
He further demanded that a criminal negligence case be registered against officials who failed to utilise the Rs 18.5 lakh MPLADS fund released for the maintenance of the Rohtak stadium. “Why was this money not used for stadium upkeep? Those responsible must face strict legal action,” he said.
‘Insult to Haryana’s Sporting Legacy’
Taking a swipe at the Centre and the state government, Hooda said that during the Congress regime, 481 sports stadiums were built in rural and urban areas under the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan. “Despite Haryana being known as a mine of sports talent, the Centre has allocated only Rs 80 crore out of its Rs 3,500 crore national sports budget to Haryana. This is nothing short of an insult to our athletes and their medals,” he remarked.
He accused the BJP government of maintaining silence despite repeated warnings and questions raised about the deteriorating sports infrastructure. “The Chief Minister must take moral responsibility for this negligence and ensure justice to the victims’ families,” Hooda said.
‘Athletes’ Rights Crushed Under BJP Rule’
The former CM alleged that the BJP government had systematically weakened Haryana’s pro-sport ecosystem. “Under the BJP regime, the 3 per cent sports quota in Group C and D jobs was abolished. Players were denied promotions and cash awards from 2021 onwards. In contrast, during the Congress government, cash awards were also given to junior, sub-junior and youth game players,” he claimed.
Hooda further asserted that Haryana’s once-strong sports framework had been “destroyed in the last 11 years.” He said that under the Khelo India scheme, Haryana received the lowest grant among 28 states, while Gujarat received the highest allocation, despite Haryana producing the most international medals.
Questions On Commonwealth Games Venue
The Hooda duo also questioned the decision to allow Gujarat to host the upcoming Commonwealth Games events in India in 2030. “If merit had any value, Haryana should have been chosen. Gujarat’s name appears to have emerged through a slip, not merit,” Hooda remarked. He added that the Games should ideally be hosted in NCR states or in Haryana and Punjab, which have contributed the most to India’s sporting medals over the decades.
