Special Correspondent
JAMMU: Sports has no caretaker in Jammu and Kashmir. It is proved by none other than Minister In-charge Imran Raza Ansari, who tendered his resignation to the Chief Minister on February 17, seeking change of portfolio or an additional charge of a prime department.
Ansari, who was appointed Sports Minister in the government-led by Late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed too, had expressed annoyance over the portfolio and same happened when he was inducted into Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP Government on April 4 last year.
“This is unfortunate. Nobody in political arena wants to head Sports and it is really shameful,” an official of State Sports Council, pleading anonymity, said.
He said that it is all ‘chair’ and ‘money’ game, adding, “Sports in Jammu and Kashmir always remained in the backburner and this is the reason that it never flourished despite having no dearth of talent.”
For a while, if the Minister concerned is not interested in Sports portfolio, will he quit as head of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association too?
“Ansari in a legal battle against the then JKCA Chief Dr Farooq Abdullah, won the presidential chair but if he wants to detach himself from sports, he should completely give up, including as head of State’s cricket body,” said an official.
Sports lovers and sportspersons however, have expressed resentment against the Minister for being ‘non-serious’ towards sports and not giving due consideration even when having the charge.
“The minister hardly has time to work for the betterment and upliftment of sports in the State and his adamant attitude of not re-joining the ministry despite Chief Minister’s assurance have cleared the dust from his concern and love for sports,” a veteran sportsman said.
Quoting the minister in one of his recent statements that politics has nothing to do with sports, he said, “Ansari is himself politicsing with the portfolio. One should accept challenges in life rather than escaping.”
Minister for Youth Services, Sports and Technical Education, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari on February 2 while chairing a high level meeting had said that sports has nothing to do with politics.
“It is an area where performers showcase their talent by their performances and are judged on that basis. I personally believe in it. And with this vision, I want to take sports in J&K to the greater heights”, the Minister stressed.
“JKCA is a wing of world’s richest Board BCCI and it is an honour to be member of the body thus it may be one of the reasons’ that the minister prefers to stay with the JKCA but not as Sports Minister,” a sports promoter said adding, “what an irony?”
However, the minister is reportedly out of the country at present when ‘Khelo India’ programme-an initiative of Government of India, is in full swing in the State. Pertinent to mention, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is President of State Sports Council. Ansari on February 17 resigned from the ministry after resignation of Bashrat Bukhari over portfolio issue. Bukhari made a comeback but according to sources, Ansari still is adamant on his decision.
