Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh sports department to take strict action against the contractors and officers accused of serving food to Kabaddi players in the toilet during a state sports competition in Saharanpur, UP, reported news agency ANI. Videos and pictures of the incident also went viral on the social media in which one can see players being served rice from containers placed inside a toilet.
"I have directed that strict action be taken against the accused contractor and officers. I have also directed that the contractor be blacklisted from future events as well. This is a standing instruction for everywhere that such incidents should not happen," the sports minister was quoted by ANI as saying.
"We have also given instructions to UP sports department to take a strict decision in this matter against the accused," he added.
Soon after the video went viral, the Regional Sports Officer of Saharanpur, Animesh Saxena, was suspended by the Sports Directorate of Uttar Pradesh.
"The Chief Secretary of Sports Department made aware through a letter that photos of food meant for kabaddi players participating in an event held in Saharanpur being found in a toilet have surfaced on social media, causing immense slander against the department and the government. It seems that regional officials and stakeholders' defective operations led to this incident and the Chief Secretary instructed for strict action against Regional Sports Officer, Saharanpur, Animesh Saxena," read the letter, reported ANI.
Several opposition parties have criticised the BJP for disrespecting the kabaddi players. Taking to Twitter the Congress wrote in Hindi, "The BJP can spend crores on various campaigns, but does not have money to make proper arrangements for players."
While Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called for strong action against those involved in the incident.