Jammu, August 16: Ranjod Singh, who is on a hunger strike regarding job allocations under the sports quota and corruption in sports, stated that the protest will continue until an investigation into the irregularities in the SO-12 list is conducted.
Under Singh’s leadership, protesters are also demanding the transfer of Nuzhat Gul, the Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, who has held the position for the past six years. Singh alleged that several IAS officers have been transferred multiple times under Gul’s supervision. Sunday marked the tenth day of Singh’s hunger strike.
The protesters claim that there has been malpractice in the recruitment process within the Ministry of Sports, and that lesser-known sports like Pencak Silat are being promoted over Olympic events, which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) does not endorse. Singh expressed that the hunger strike will persist until the policies that undermine sportsmen are abolished and a fair investigation into the SO-12 irregularities takes place. He remains hopeful that the government will take decisive action on this matter.
Meanwhile, Uday Bhanu Chib, President of the Indian Youth Congress, joined the ongoing protests. Speaking to the media, he urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Sports Minister Satish Sharma to support Ranjod’s call for a fair investigation. Chib emphasized that a departmental inquiry would not yield any results. He also backed the demand for Nuzhat Gul’s transfer, pointing out that while she has remained in her position for six years, many officials have been transferred three to four times during that period. Chib accused authorities of exerting pressure on Ranjod and the youth to suppress the protests and end the hunger strike, which includes filing FIRs and removing posts from social media.
Leave a Comment