The BJP on Sunday lashed out at the State Government over the forthcoming Asian Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium and said the State Government was trying to use the event to get political mileage.
BJP general secretary Prithiviraj Harichandan alleged the State Government was using the event for political campaigning by printing the image of Chief Minister Patnaik on the advertisements. The State Government was trying to make political gain from sports, he added.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram accused the State Government of confining the Asian Athletics meet to its coterie and others are being kept away from it. He further added, “I have been invited but will not be able to attend the meet due to prior engagements on July 9. I think Dharmendra Pradhan (Union Minister) will attend it.”
Reacting to Oram’s comments, State Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera said, “I request them not to have such cheap mentality. It is a question of Odisha’s pride; so, I urge all to join hands to make this event a grand success. There is no political interest in it; don’t spoil the event by politicising it.”