Sportspersons threaten to self-immolate to demand sports quota

Imphal, Dec 22 (UNI) Piqued over the failure of the Manipur government to provide jobs to them, many sportspersons of the Meritorious Sports Persons Association today threatened to go for self-immolation in front of the offices of Chief Minister, Education Minister, and the State Secretariat in Imphal.

President of the association L Lokendro said for over the last two-and-half decade the succeeding governments had kept the proposals for appointment of meritorious sports persons as government employee in cold storage.

The association members said as per directive from the Ministry of Personnel, Government of India in 1991, the Manipur government had formed a board in 1992. After seven years the names of 52 sportspersons were recommended only to be cancelled next year, he claimed.

He said if the government did not do anything for them in next 48 hours then some sportpersons might end their life to protest the government's apathy.

UNI NS PC DH RS1638