Haryana delegation to Rio to cost exchequer Rs 1 crore

A delegation from Haryana, led by Sports Minister Anil Vij, for the Rio Olympics has run into controversy with questions being raised on the nearly Rs 1 crore being spent on the trip.

Vij, and his delegation comprising 6-7 members, will leave for Rio de Janerio on Saturday. The delegation includes two BJP legislators, Gian Chand Gupta and Vijay Pal, two senior bureaucrats, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Khandelwal and Jagdeep Singh, and other officials.

Official sources said that the expenses to be incurred on the delegation's trip would be up to Rs 1 crore.

The minister, on Friday, defended the trip saying that a number of players in the Indian contingent to the Rio Olympics were from Haryana and the delegation was going to cheer for them. The delegation will return after participating in the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics.

The players from Haryana include wrestlers, boxers and athletes.

Vij justified his trip saying: "It is important that we understand what infrastructure has to be created for international events. We have to host the national games in Haryana. We will also go and cheer our players from Haryana."

The minister had earlier cancelled the Rio trip in July after the state assembly session was announced by the state government for mid-August. However, the assembly session has now been postponed and the delegation led by Vij is all set for the Rio sojourn.

--IANS

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