Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday asked Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to intervene and stop the State local Bodies Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu, from taking whimsical decisions like locking up of ultra-modern indoor stadium constructed at ludhiana by the previous SAD-BJP Government.
“It is condemnable that indoor stadium on Pakhowal road in ludhiana had fallen victim to negative approach of local Bodies Minister who had got it locked up solely because former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had got the project speeded up and constructed after years of neglect,” said former Minister and SAD’s spokesman Maheshinder Singh Grewal in an open letter to the Chief Minister.
He said work on the stadium started in 2004 but it could not take off due to one reason or another. “It required the political will of Sukhbir Badal to get it completed finally”, he added.
Stating that Sidhu’s “Akali phobia” knew no bounds, Grewal said players were being denied access to the world class facility now simply because of the Akali hand in its construction.
“The stadium has facilities for playing volleyball, basketball and badminton but these facilities are being denied to youngsters. It also has space for housing offices,” he pointed.
Urging the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter immediately, Grewal said otherwise a beautiful facility which could aid in producing world class players, would fall victim to Sidhu’s petty political approach.
He also urged Capt Amarinder to ensure crores spent to construct the facility do not go waste and that players start using the same at the earliest.