Amid opposition protest, HP govt withdraws sports bill

SHIMLA : Amidst the opposition’s protest, the Jai Ram Thakur government-led state government on Tuesday withdrew the Himachal Pradesh Sports Bill, which was brought by the previous Congress government.

After the question hour, Gobind Thakur, youth services and sports minister, proposed to withdraw the bill.

Earlier, the Congress MLAs raised slogans and walked out of the House for not allowing to raise the issue.

Congress member Ram Lal Thakur and some other Congress MLAs had given the notice to raise the issue of alleged control of the sports bodies.

Speaker Rajiv Bindal said the notice has been received and sent to government for the reply.

Congress MLA Jagat Singh said the withdrawal of bill is not valid and reasons should be given before withdrawing the bill.

Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh alleged that the government wants to benefit a particular sports body. Singh said, it seems the BJP government wants to give relief to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).

Speaker clarified that he has allowed the bill to be withdrawn after studying rules.

Later, the sports minister said the bill was pending with the governor, while some sports bodies have raised apprehensions over this bill.

Congress Legislature Party leader Mukesh Agnihotri said the notice to raise this issue was not taken up while the agenda of withdrawing the bill was in the list for the day.

“Government may bring the better bill. There were many good things in the bill introduced by the previous government. We are hopeful that new bill will have all such provisions,” BJP MLA Rakesh Pathania said.

Two previous state governors did not discharge their constitutional duty and they kept sitting on the bill and did not give their consent, alleged former CM Virbhadra Singh while talking to the media after the House’s proceedings on Tuesday.