GUWAHATI, Nov 28 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has strictly directed the Sports and Youth Welfare Department not to allow non-sporting activities at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at Sarusajai Sports Complex in the city.
In a statement here today, Gogoi asked the Sports and Youth Welfare Department not to accord permission to any political parties, organisations, individuals to hold any non-sporting activities in the main stadium at Sarusajai.
Expressing his grave displeasure at the Sports and Youth Welfare Department for throwing open the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium for non-sporting activities, Gogoi strictly directed the department not to allow non-sporting activities in the main stadium in the near future.
�The Sports and Youth Welfare Department has to ensure that the playground is in good condition and it should not allow non-sporting activities that might cause damage to the playground. This directive has to be strictly adhered to at any costs,� he added.
State govt stand: Meanwhile, reacting to the alleged �misinformation campaign� launch-ed by a section of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders that the marriage reception of the Chief Minister�s son Gaurav Gogoi was held at the Sarusajai main stadium, the Government of Assam has clarified that the function was organised at the Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium.
In a release here today, the State government said it would like to put the matters straight that it has directed the Sports and Youth Welfare Department not to allow any non-sporting activity at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in the near future. The directive from the Chief Minister has been issued to the department so that the playing arena is not damaged. The State government has already spent crores of rupees for repairing and maintaining the stadium.
The State government further clarifies that it would not disallow the holding of a political meeting by the BJP, for which it has already given permission. It has not given any instruction to the authorities to cancel the permission for the said meeting. However, the government would not allow any non-sporting activities in the main stadium in the near future, said the government.
