CHANDIGARH: Para-athletes of various disciplines held a protest near the official residence of Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh here on Thursday, demanding jobs from the state government.
Later, the chief minister assured them that their demands will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting.
Sanjeev Kumar, para badminton (world medallist), said the protesting sportspersons wanted to return the awards given by the state as a mark of protest.
He said, “We wanted to protest peacefully but the police manhandled us.
We want jobs for bringing laurels to the country, to live a dignified life.
The new sports policy notified in 2018 has stopped the financial aid to para-athletes.” Kumar said the CM telephoned them later and expressed regret at the way the protesters were treated and promised to discuss their demands in the next cabinet meeting.
AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said the para-athletes were being ignored by the government and tried to gherao the CM’s residence to return their awards.
He alleged that the state government was not helping the players but was rewarding rich Congress MLAs and leaders with jobs in the name of compassion.
“Why doesn’t the government give jobs to the players? Instead, on the orders of the chief minister, the police are cracking down on the players who are demanding their rights.
It should be condemned,” he added.