08-08-2023 : During a session in the Lok Sabha, Member of Parliament and former Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, took the opportunity to correct Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement regarding the hosting of international sports events in Gulmarg. The exchange took place as Rijiju highlighted the achievements of the current government during a No Confidence Motion discussion. Rijiju had made a claim that a significant sporting event had been organized for the first time in Gulmarg under the present Central Government’s leadership.
Rijiju recounted the Khelo India Winter Games that were conducted in Gulmarg under the aegis of the Union Sports Ministry, which he was overseeing at that time. He shared an anecdote about a National Conference legislator who had expressed emotional appreciation for the occurrence of such a grand-scale sports activity in Gulmarg.
However, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, a member of the National Conference, stood up to correct Rijiju’s assertion. He reminded the Union Minister for Earth Science that the first international games held in Gulmarg had taken place during the tenure of Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. At that time, Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Asserting the historical significance of Gulmarg as a hub of sports, Dr. Abdullah emphasized that the region had long been associated with various sporting events.
Dr. Abdullah acknowledged the positive impact of the Khelo India initiative, recognizing its role in bringing about improvements in various aspects. While commending the government’s efforts, he also clarified that the assertion that such sporting events had never been held before was not accurate. He highlighted the improvements that have been seen in recent times.
In response, Kiren Rijiju acknowledged that Farooq Abdullah might indeed have organized sports events during his tenure as a minister in the Central Government. However, he maintained that there was a lack of consistent and fixed sporting events during that period. Rijiju also emphasized that the Khelo India event is fully funded by the Government of India and has contributed to creating a more vibrant sports atmosphere.