CPI(M) leader Su Venkatesan, a Member of Parliament from Madurai who is known for deliberately misinterpreting Central Government circulars and notifications to spread the narrative that the BJP-led central government is discriminating against Tamils, has now concocted yet another half-truth regarding Sports Authority of India.
Quoting the circular of Sports Authority of India (No. 518/SAI/OPS/STC Review/2022-23), dated 5 April 2023, Communist MP Su Venkatesan said that the only volleyball training center in Tamil Nadu has been shifted to Varanasi and that orders are passed to cancel the recognition of volleyball and handball training centers in Mayiladuthurai.
He added, “Another training center in Tamil Nadu, Salem, has basketball accreditation, but there are no vacancies for women. There is no other volleyball training center in Tamil Nadu. So, where will Tamil Nadu’s female athletes go for volleyball and basketball training? This is discrimination against Tamil Nadu.”
He urged the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur to withdraw what he claimed as an “unjust order”.
The only volley ball training centre in Tamil Nadu has been shifted to Varanasi.
Orders passed to cancel the recognition of volleyball and handball traning centre at Mayiladuthurai.@ianuragthakur should immediately withdraw this unjust order.@Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/qu9CxYX98A
— Su Venkatesan MP (@SuVe4Madurai) April 12, 2023
However, the MP is incorrect on multiple counts. Firstly, the circular mentioned by the MP Su Venkatesan is applicable to only the STCs. STC is the SAI (Sports Authority of India) Training Centres. Presently there are only 2 STCs in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the circular is not applicable to the entire state of Tamil Nadu but only to the 2 STCs. However, MP Su Venkatesan attempted to portray that the entire Volleyball and Basketball training for women in Tamil Nadu is coming to a standstill after the order.
The STC scheme is aimed at grooming junior-level sports persons in the age group of 10-18 years who have been scouted from the grassroots. Facilities provided to the trainees include boarding, sports kit, stipend, competition exposure, education expenses, medical, insurance, and other expenses. Presently there are 67 STC Centers in the country having a total strength of more than 4800 trainees.
For strengthening the potential STCs with sufficient FoPs (Field of Play) and accommodations, the Sports Authority of India has revised the strength of each SAI Training Center. Based on infrastructure availability, the strength of intake in certain sports was increased while others were decreased across India. As a result, some sports covered by STCs in Tamil Nadu saw an increase, while others saw a decrease.
It should be noted that nowhere in the circular posted by Su Venkatesan it is mentioned that the recognition of Volleyball and Basketball training centers in Mayilaaduthurai will be revoked. However, the MP preferred to use the phrase “revocation of recognition” for Volleyball and Basketball training centers in Mayilaaduthurai in order to peddle a false propaganda that the Union Government is discriminating Tamils.
Though the Sports Authority of India’s circular makes changes to the existing strength of the STCs, the circular clearly states that the regional directors have the final say on whether to increase or decrease the strength for which adequate accommodation and FOPS are available. However, MP Su Venkatesan ignored this part to peddle his lies.
Sports Authority of India circular reads, “If there is a need of increasing/decreasing the strength in any discipline adding/ deleting any discipline for which sufficient accommodation and FOPS are available, Regional Director may take up this separately by giving suitable justification.”
Su Venkatesan has employed this tactic of “North vs South” several times in the past to incite Tamil people against BJP and North Indians. He has went to the extent of peddling blatant lies in such attempts.
It is important to mention that leading news outlets like Vikatan and others, without verifying the facts, have published this lie of MP Su Venkatesan. This is the second time within a fortnight, the Communist MP has peddled lies by misquoting central government circulars. Last week, he lied about Hindi being made mandatory for the Loco Pilot who drives the Chennai to Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express during the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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