Anurag Singh Thakur’s ‘TB-Free India’ Campaign Receives Support from Delhi Police

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): To raise awareness about TB and as part of the 'TB-Free India—TB Will Lose, the Nation Will Win' initiative spearheaded by former Union Minister and MP Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, a friendly cricket match was organized today—Sunday—at the National Stadium in Delhi between Members of Parliament (MPs) and officers of the Delhi Police. Anurag Singh Thakur led the team of MPs, while Commissioner Satish Golcha captained the Delhi Police side. In a fiercely contested and thrilling match, the Delhi Police team defeated the MPs' team by 12 runs to claim the winner's trophy. After losing the toss and batting first, the Delhi Police team posted a formidable total of 225 runs in 20 overs; in response, despite a magnificent innings of 52 runs by Anurag Singh Thakur, the MPs' team was restricted to a total of 212 runs. The friendly cricket match was broadcast live on DD Sports. Speaking about this friendly cricket match—specifically the 'TB-Free India' T20 match—Mr. Anurag Thakur stated: "I express my gratitude to all the Members of Parliament and police officials for joining us in playing this 'TB-Free' cricket match to raise awareness.

A 'TB-Free India' is a resolve championed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. This is a disease that claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. We are striving to spread awareness regarding this issue; indeed, we have previously played cricket matches in several Indian cities under the initiative 'TB Will Lose, the Nation Will Win.' As part of the 'TB-Free India' campaign, we intend to travel to every corner of the country to play matches and work towards sensitizing the public about TB.

Playing a match today in Delhi alongside the team of police officials has been a magnificent experience. Together, both teams scored over 400 runs, which stands as a testament to the enthusiasm surrounding this match. Such events will prove instrumental in boosting awareness as we work towards fulfilling Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision of a 'TB-Free India' by 2025. Although we may have lost the match, the core objective behind its organization was successfully achieved; in the same spirit, we will ultimately succeed in defeating TB across India. We may play against one another on the field, but our true battle is against TB.

Our slogan is: 'We will play, but TB will lose.' TB does not discriminate based on political party, individual identity, nation, or language; it can afflict anyone. The primary objective of this match is to defeat TB and to convey this vital message to every single citizen. I commend not only the political leaders but also all the police officials who stepped forward to participate in this campaign and helped take this message to the masses."

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, remarked: "The Parliament of India represents a population of 1.4 billion people and holds the expectation that society will benefit from the collective experience of its elected representatives. Our goal is to make India TB-free by 2025; in this context, this friendly match between Members of Parliament and police officials will serve as a powerful tool for spreading awareness regarding the eradication of TB. I extend my appreciation to all the Members of Parliament and police officials participating in this match, as well as to the organizers of this event." "I congratulate Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur for making a meaningful effort towards eradicating a disease like TB from its very roots. If we all, with unwavering resolve, dedicate ourselves within our respective spheres to spreading awareness regarding TB eradication, we will undoubtedly succeed in completely rooting out TB from India within the stipulated timeframe."

While felicitating the players at the conclusion of the match, BCCI Vice President and Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Rajeev Shukla, stated: "The vision behind Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur's organization of this cricket match—pitting politicians against police officers—is both far-sighted and impactful, and I commend him for it. It is heartening to witness both politicians and police officers converging on a single platform to raise awareness against TB; today, this stadium has borne witness to a magnificent and thrilling match. There are numerous parallels between cricket and politics, which explains the immense enthusiasm among the spectators regarding this match. I extend my congratulations to all the players who participated in this game."

CCI President and senior MP, Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, remarked: "Anurag Thakur organizes matches of this nature on a regular basis, and the primary objective behind them is to convey a singular message: that we must eradicate TB from our country. Victory and defeat are secondary; the true goal is to make our nation TB-free."