Haryana CM puts hold on notification seeking share of athletes income

The Haryana government on Friday issued a circular which grabbed eyeballs of all as it was asking the state athletes to deposit one-third of their income to the Haryana State Sports Council.

Now, after the immense outrage from the state athletes, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has put a hold on the orders issued by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department.

The circular released by Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Haryana government issued on April 30 this year says, "One-third of the income earned by the sportsperson from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council. The money will be used for the development of sport in the State’’.

The notification was undersigned by Ashok Khemka, Principal Secretary of Government of Haryana (Sports and Youth Affairs Department)

In a talk with ANI, wrestler Babita Phogat said, ‘’Does the government even realise how much of hard work a sportsperson puts in? How can they ask for one-third of the income? I do not support this at all. Govt should've at least discussed it with us’’.

Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt took his Twitter handle and wrote, ‘’God save us (from the official). Since the time such officials have joined the sports department, they have been issuing baseless, Tughlaqi farmaan (diktat). Their contribution towards the growth of sports in Haryana is zero but I claim they are 100 percent succeeding in its decline. The athletes will move to other states and you will be the one to be blamed’’.

Another Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar said, ‘’this policy should be reviewed. Govt should establish a committee of senior sportspersons & take their input before forming a policy of this type. This will affect the morale of sportspersons & might affect their performance as well’’.

Looking at the reactions from the state athletes, Haryana Chief Minister assured the state athletes and order probe into the matter. He wrote ‘’I have asked for the relevant file of Sports Department to be shown to me & the notification dated 30th April to be put on hold till further orders.We are proud of the immense contribution by our sportspersons & I assure them of a just consideration of all issues affecting them’’.