Jammu, Aug 20: ‘Outstanding sportspersons’ in Jammu on Thursday called off their prolonged hunger strike after Youth Services and Sports Minister Satish Sharma gave a written assurance that the controversial SO 12 selection list would be reviewed and kept on hold.
According to the details available, Minister Satish Sharma had earlier visited the protest site on August 15 and interacted with the agitating sportspersons. “His visit had opened a channel for dialogue with the protesters and paved the way for discussions on their concerns regarding the selection process,” said an official.
Pertinently, the agitation, led by athlete Ranjodh Singh, was centred on allegations of nepotism, back-door entries and irregularities in the selection process for government posts under S.O. 12. The protesting athletes had been demanding a transparent review of the selection process and corrective measures to ensure fairness for deserving sportspersons.
Athletes were sitting on indefinite hunger strike near the Maharaja Hari Singh statue in Jammu, drawing support from various civil society groups, local bodies and political delegations. The Yuva Rajput Sabha and several regional political representatives also extended support to the protesting sportspersons.
Following the Minister’s visit on August 15, discussions continued between the protesting athletes and the administration. The matter was subsequently taken forward with a written commitment from the Youth Services and Sports Department to review the selection list and keep it on hold.
The assurance also included examining the existing sports recruitment framework and taking steps towards reframing policies to make the selection process more transparent and responsive to the concerns of deserving sportspersons.
Following the written assurance, Ranjodh Singh and the other protesting athletes suspended their hunger strike, bringing the agitation to an end—(KNO)
