A file image of Congress leader Manish Tewari.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is also an Olympic silver medallist, has attracted criticism for allegedly asking about the details of medals won by the Indian athletes in international events in the past four years. The Sports Ministry also allegedly sought the details of medals won by India during the previous UPA regime to do a comparison with the medals won during the current NDA government.
Congress party's national spokesperson, Manish Tewari, in a tweet, has accused the Union sports ministry of trying to "politicise" sports by seeking information on medal record of Indian athletes in the past four years for a comparison with the UPA government, a charge rejected by the Ministry.
Tewari, who held the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting during UPA-II, attached a screenshot of an email allegedly from Rathore's office, and wrote: "Isn't this blatant politicisation of sports? Read mail below @Ra_THORe office is ostensibly asking Sports Federations for a comparison of the medals won by India in the past 4 years as opposed to UPA years? Sportspersons win medals for India not NDA/BJP or UPA! Very Shameful."
The text of the letter posted by Tewari read: "MoS's (I/c) office sought the following information urgently: The no. of medal won by India in the international events during the last four years -if a comparison is made with medal won by India during UPA government. This may kindly be treated as urgent."
A National Sports Federation (NSF) official, has meanwhile, confirmed to PTI that they did receive a letter from the Sports ministry, asking about the medal count in the last four years.
"We had got the letter one week back and we have already sent our reply but I am not sure if it is asked for comparison with UPA," said the official.
