Guwahati: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with BJP workers on November 30 in Sarusajai Sports Complex here, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday direc-ted the Sports and Youth Welfare Department not to allow any “non-sporting activity” in main stadium.
In a statement here on Friday, the Chief Minister asked the Sports Depart-ment not to accord permis-sion to any political party/organisation/individual to hold any “non-sporting” activity in the main stadium area of Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.
Expressing his displeasure at the Sports and Youth Welfare Depart-ment for throwing open the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium for “non-sporting” activity, Gogoi strictly direc-ted the department not to allow non-sporting activi-ties in the main stadium in future.
“The Department has to ensure that the playground is in good condition and it should not allow non-sporting activity that might cause damage to the play ground.
This directive has to be strictly adhered to at any cost,” he added. Mean-while, Union Sports Mini-ster Sorbananda Sonowal talking to reporters at the stadium said, “the decision to grant permission for use of the stadium is given by the state government and not the central government.
If they had objections, then permission for the meeting should not have been given”. “We sought permission for holding the meeting, made the neces-sary payments and comple-ted all the required forma-lities. We all know what kind of meeting and functions have been held in the stadium earlier.
Why trigger a contro-versy now? “, Sonowal said. BJP national vice president and MP representing Guwahati Bijoya Chakra-borty said, “Non-sporting events have taken place in the stadium.Gogoi’s son’s wedding reception was held in the stadium (PTI)
