Vij doles out `50 lakh for Sirsa godman’s game, kicks up row
SIRSA/CHANDIGARH: Haryana sports minister Anil Vij has announced `50 lakh from his discretionary fund to a religious sect in the state for promoting sports, a move that triggered a debate on politicians misusing public money.
Vij announced the donation during a visit to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa on Saturday night where he witnessed a sporting event, named Tiranga Rumaal Chu.
Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has invented the game — which Vij described as a “very interesting” combination of kabbadi, kho-kho and wrestling — but it is not an accepted sport played at national competitions, let alone international events.
Singh said the money would be used to build a sports village and prepare players for the next Olympics. It was not clear if he would prepare players of Tiranga Rumaal Chu for the Olympics, or athletes of recognised disciplines.
The minister’s donation comes from a discretionary grant of `5 crore a year. “Guidelines on discretionary grants are fuzzy and the release of funds depends on the discretion of ministers, leading to inconsistencies,” a source said.
Known as the “guru in bling” for his penchant for garish costumes, the 48-year-old dera chief, who commands a following of many crores, has been known to assist political parties. He is facing trial over the murder of a journalist in 2002 along with charges of sexually exploiting female followers.