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 today directed the Sports and Youth Welfare Department not to allow any “non-sporting activity” in main stadium.
In a statement here today, the Chief Minister asked the Sports Department not to accord permission 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 Department for throwing open the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium for “non-sporting” activity, Gogoi strictly directed the department not to allow non-sporting activities 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.
Meanwhile, Union Sports Minister 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 necessary payments and completed all the required formalities. We all know what kind of meeting and functions have been held in the stadium earlier. Why trigger a controversy now? “, Sonowal said.
BJP national vice president and MP representing Guwahati Bijoya Chakraborty said, “Non-sporting events have taken place in the stadium. Tarun Gogoi's son's wedding reception was held in the stadium (last year). Gogoi had addressed a children's Day function there recently”.
“It doesn't augur well for a Chief minister to make differences between state and central governments”, Chakraborty told reporters. BJP MP and tea tribe leader Kamakhya Prasad Tassa said, “A department under Gogoi's government gave us the permission. We all know about his son's wedding reception in
the stadium. We are a responsible party”
