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Haryana Minister Anil Vij travels to Rio, to 'stand by Indian players'

Vij is part of an 8-member delegation of officials sent by the Haryana government, which will cost it Rs 1 crore.

New Delhi: Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij has become the latest politician to join the struggling Indian team contingent at the Rio Olympics.

According to a report, he has flown to Rio to be part of a fairly large group of bureaucrats and politicians who are in Brazil to ‘cheer’ for the Indian contingent.
Before leaving, the minister had tweeted that he is "leading a contingent to Olympics to encourage the Haryana players”.

Asked by reporters as to what he was doing in Rio, Vij was quoted as saying that he wants to stand by Indian players and see what problems they were facing.

Vij is part of an 8-member delegation of officials sent by the Haryana government, which will cost it Rs 1 crore.

The minister had cancelled his Rio visit in July because of the assembly session. But a decision was taken to postpone the Assembly session, following which he flew to Rio, said reports. It is not clear why the session was postponed.

Videos have surfaced showing Vij ‘encouraging’ a group of Indians during an Independence Day celebration organised in Rio.

Sounding repetitive, Vij told a reporter, “It is a very auspicious day for India. Our players are doing a great job to take the name of our nation to the top. Many achievements we have achieved and we are going to achieve many more achievements.”

Corruption-accused Abhay Chautala, son of OP Chautala, has also made it to Rio, raising the hackles of a special court in Delhi investigating the disproportionate assets case against him, said a PTI report.

Last week, India’s Sports Minister Vijay Goel, who is also at Rio, was embroiled in a controversy when he was admonished by the International Olympic Committee for violating rules during the Games and entering areas which are off limits for non-participants.

Overall, at least 40 Indian officials are in Rio as guests of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which is a government body.

India is yet to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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