ABP E-Shikhar Sammelan: Kiren Rijiju Blames Jawaharlal Nehru For Perennial Indo-China Border Dispute

The minister said to ensure that the business of sports survives in this tough time, athletes have been asked to maintain links with trainers, take care of fitness, and games can resume without spectators.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday at ABP News's e-Shikhar Sammelan that India won’t be able to organise any tournaments with spectators because of the fear of Covid-19, but the government will continue to nurture youth and encourage participation. On the lockdown, the minister said, "The Centre has a 360 degree view of the situation and every ministry has been working throughout the lockdown. The challenges have cropped up world over as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak." However, the minister said to ensure that business of sports survive in this tough time athletes have been asked to maintain links with trainers, maintain fitness throughout the lockdown. Athletes have already started with their trainings and also getting the juniors, too. In the last one year, India has been able to take a leap in various sports. The ministry has unveiled programmes encouraging youth to join sports. On being asked about how the country aims to reap the benefit of the youth population. “The sports ministry has taken crucial steps to strengthen sports and ensure India creates its own niche. Khelo India programme has been received well as the youth are being trained so that more people come forward to join the field of sports. The government will continue to nurture youth and encourage participation, he added. All 75 lakh volunteers in the sports ministry have been working keeping in mind the restrictions and safety, he stressed while saying the challenges remain for countries world over. On Indo- China relations the sports minister who belongs to Arunachal Pradesh Rijiju said, “The issue has been since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru. Since borders were not drawn properly the dispute continues to surface on and off. I don’t want to comment because it’s a sensitive and a deeper issue.” The minister remained tight lipped on US President Donald Trump’s comment on Modi. It’s better that the comment comes from diplomatic channels instead of creating an issue out of someone's comment.