Opposition lodges protest against shifting of Ranji final

Lucknow, Mar 23 (UNI) The united opposition today grilled the ruling Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government in the assembly over non-allocation of K D Singh Babu Stadium for holding the Ranji one-day final between UP and Railways here on March 21.

The opposition -- BJP, Congress, BSP -- staged a noisy walkout after state sports minister R K Choudhury admitted the department had received the application from UP Cricket Association (UPCA) for allotment of stadium to stage the final match.

Later, the opposition members obstructed the house proceedings by raising anti-government slogans from the well of the house.

The house was adjourned for the day after taking up all the business amid noisy scenes.

The members claimed the government was anti-sports and was playing politics to hamper the growth of sports personalities in UP.

Raising the matter through an adjournment motion during zero hour, Congress members Pramod Tiwari and Jagdambika Pal alleged politics behind the entire controversy.

''A person, who does not know cricket is trying to take control of the sports assocation and is behind the controversy,'' Mr Tiwari said, without taking any name.

They said it was a black day for UP cricket lovers and now UP team will have to face difficult situation as they have to play outside the state.

Replying to the motion, Mr Choudhury said the state government was committed to uplifting sports, and to control the sports association an act was passed last year.

''It would be wrong to say that any allotment was made for the final as the application given by the association was not proper in order,'' he claimed.

The member, however, claimed for the benefit of cricket, the minister should have called the association to rectify the application.

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