Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP National Media Incharge Anurag Dhanda and State President Dr. Sushil Gupta met with Hardik Rathi's family and expressed their condolences
Rohtak/Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh visited Lakhanmajra in Rohtak on Thursday, where he met with the family of 16-year-old national basketball player Hardik Rathi and shared his condolences. Hardik died yesterday after a basketball pole suddenly collapsed during practice. The Chief Minister described this incident as not just an accident, but a result of Haryana's poor sports system, which robbed a talented athlete of both his future and life.
The Chief Minister said that this incident is not just a family's pain, but a grief for the entire sports world. A bright athlete going out to practice as usual and returning home a corpse is unacceptable in any sensitive system. Villagers repeatedly complained about the dilapidated condition of the field, and funds were released, but neither the pole was replaced nor repaired and now a home has been destroyed forever. Mann said that the Haryana government should take responsibility for this negligence, as this is not an oversight but a crime. He demanded a government job and compensation for a member of the victim's family.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also mentioned the recent death of 15-year-old player Aman Kumar in Bahadurgarh due to a similar pole collapse, saying that this is not an isolated incident but evidence of crumbling sports infrastructure. When two young athletes are dying on practice grounds, it's natural to question how hollow the hype surrounding sports policies is. He said that India is claiming to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, but it's unable to ensure safe posts, grounds, and nets for athletes.
CM Bhagwant Mann demanded that the Indian Sports Ministry seek reports from all states on the current status of sports grounds across the country and inspect the dilapidated structures, so that the next Hardik or Aman doesn't die while simply going to practice.
The Chief Minister said that to bring sports facilities in Punjab to international standards, construction of more than 3,100 state-of-the-art stadiums is underway at a cost of ₹1,194 crore. The state's sports budget has been increased to ₹1,000 crore and the Khelo India (Kheda Watan Punjab Diya) campaign for three consecutive years has provided opportunities for millions of athletes to advance. He stated that sports talent is the nation's asset, and the governments' primary responsibility is to protect and advance them, not to simply issue a formal statement and turn a blind eye.
Aam Aadmi Party's National Media Incharge Anurag Dhanda and Haryana State President Dr. Sushil Gupta were also present during the visit. Anurag Dhanda stated that sports facilities in Haryana are not providing a platform for athletes; instead, the grounds are becoming their graveyards. The deaths of two children are not a coincidence but a breakdown of the system, and the fight will continue until action is taken against the culprits. Meanwhile, State President Dr. Sushil Gupta stated that while the government makes tall claims about sports policy, children are dying due to negligence, not training. There should be no silence, and accountability should be established.