Anurag Thakur refutes rumors that he favours Hamirpur over Chandigarh fight

Union minister Anurag Thakur today put an end to rumors that he will run for Lok Sabha from the city, saying he had gotten so much affection from the people of Hamirpur (HP) that it had never occurred to him to leave.

“I have a record margin of victory in Hamirpur, but the party high command has the final say,” said Thakur.

In response to a previous inquiry about the issue, current Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher referred to Thakur as her younger brother and promised to back him wholeheartedly should he run from this seat.

In the meanwhile, Thakur was informed that the JDS had requested repatriation and that the UT Sports Department had been operating without a DSO. “I will discuss this with the local administration,” he said.

He said, “They are doing a great job,” when asked whether the BCCI should be incorporated into the government (like other sports groups) in light of the significant financial commitment. Why would the government take them under its wing? They are operating properly.

In response to questions on whether India could host the Olympics and if Chandigarh would get a second cricket stadium, Thakur replied, “If the government can build infrastructure for hosting Olympics and has made roads across the country, why can’t we build infrastructure for hosting Olympics?” Chandigarh has a single stadium, and the administration will decide how to schedule international games there.

In the meanwhile, Thakur opened the Sector 7 Sports Complex here to host the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) program.

The initiative, which is a component of the Khelo India project, targets pupils between the ages of nine and eighteen. Its goal is to find talent throughout the nation and utilize athletics as a means of combating drug addiction and other technological diversions.