In a shocking incident that has exposed the deteriorating sports infrastructure in Haryana, two promising young basketball players lost their lives when dilapidated basketball poles collapsed in Rohtak's Lakhan Majra area. The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and political confrontation across the state.
Political Outcry Over Tragic Incident
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has launched a scathing attack on the current BJP government, accusing them of treating sports and athletes as enemies. The Congress leader directly blamed government negligence for the deaths of two talented players - Hardik, a national-level player who had secured a contract with a United States club, and 15-year-old Aman, described as a promising talent with a bright future.
"This is not a simple accident or a normal death, but a death caused by sheer government negligence," Hooda stated emphatically. He highlighted that Hardik had already achieved significant recognition in basketball circles and was poised for an international career, while Aman represented the young sporting talent that Haryana has traditionally nurtured.
Complete Breakdown of Sports Infrastructure
The former chief minister revealed disturbing details about the condition of sports facilities across Haryana. The basketball pole that collapsed in Lakhan Majra was completely rusted and dilapidated, indicating years of neglect and poor maintenance. Hooda contrasted this with the "world-class sports infrastructure" built during the Congress regime, which he claimed has been left to deteriorate under BJP rule.
In a particularly damning revelation, Hooda disclosed that MP Deepender Hooda had donated ₹12.3 lakh followed by another ₹6.2 lakh specifically for the Lakhan Majra ground where the tragedy occurred. However, he alleged that "everything remained on paper, with nothing happening on the ground" despite these substantial financial contributions.
Systemic Failure in Haryana Sports Policy
The senior Congress leader painted a bleak picture of sports administration in Haryana, claiming that the state's sports policy has completely stalled since the BJP government came to power. He listed multiple failures including the absence of a new sports policy, non-functional coaching systems, discontinued talent hunt programs, and complete neglect of infrastructure maintenance.
Hooda specifically mentioned the deteriorating condition of stadiums in Charkhi Dadri, Ambala, Sirsa, Kurukshetra, and the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex in Rohtak. He contrasted the current situation with the Congress era when medal-winning athletes were appointed to prestigious positions like DSP as recognition of their achievements.
"During the Congress government, we appointed medal-winning athletes to high-ranking positions like DSP. But today's government is neither providing jobs nor incentives to athletes," Hooda remarked, highlighting what he described as broken promises and systematic neglect of sports talent.
Congress Demands and Future Action
The opposition party has put forth specific demands in response to the tragedy. The Congress is demanding an impartial, high-level investigation into the incident and strict action against those responsible for the negligence. They have called for filing an FIR against the culprits and taking systemic corrective measures.
Additionally, the party has demanded that the families of both deceased players should be immediately given government jobs and adequate financial assistance. Hooda promised that the Congress Party would strongly raise this serious matter in the Assembly, ensuring that the issue receives the attention it deserves.
Despite Haryana being a relatively small state, it has consistently won the most medals in recent Olympics and Paralympics, a achievement Hooda attributed to the "Congress's far-sighted sports policy which made Haryana a hub for sports in the country and the world." He concluded with a stark warning that such accidents would not occur if the current government paid adequate attention to sports infrastructure and athlete welfare.
