Latest news with #SportsandYouthAffairs
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
EXPOSED! Kerala government spent Rs 13 lakh to invite Lionel Messi, now he's not coming
Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts during a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello) The Kerala government spent Rs 13 lakh on Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman's trip to Spain in September 2024 to invite football legend Lionel Messi , contradicting earlier claims that no public money would be used. The minister, accompanied by the Sports Department Secretary and Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, had previously stated it would not cost "even a single rupee" to invite Messi. Minister Abdurahiman recently confirmed that the Argentine national team, led by Messi, would not be visiting Kerala . The team cited travel difficulties during October, the only month the sponsor was willing to host the event. The minister had earlier announced that the team would likely visit in October or November . He stated they would be treated as state guests, with the government covering security, accommodation, and logistics. Argentina's national team enjoys massive support in Kerala's Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. This support intensified after Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Abdurahiman, who hails from Malappuram, had been actively working to bring Messi to Kerala . Sources suggest political motivations behind these efforts , with local body elections scheduled for December and assembly elections for 140 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly due in April-May next year. The revelation of the minister's Spain trip expenses has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Both the Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA have accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of engaging in publicity stunts and misleading the public. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Kerala Government Spent Rs 13 Lakh To Invite Lionel Messi: Report
The Kerala government spent Rs 13 lakh on Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman's trip to Spain to invite Lionel Messi, contradicting claims of no public expenditure. The Kerala government's claim that no public money would be spent to bring football legend Lionel Messi to the state has been exposed as misleading. It has now emerged that the state government spent Rs 13 lakh on Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman's trip to Spain in September 2024, reportedly to invite Messi to Kerala. The Minister was accompanied by the Sports Department Secretary and the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs. This revelation contradicts Minister Abdurahiman's earlier statement that it would not cost the government 'even a single rupee" to invite Messi to Kerala. Earlier this week, the same Minister confirmed that Argentina's national football team, led by Messi, would not be visiting Kerala. The Argentinian team reportedly cited difficulties in traveling to the state in October, the only month the sponsor was willing to host the event. Previously, Abdurahiman had claimed that the team was likely to visit in October or November and would be treated as state guests, with the government covering their security, accommodation, and other logistics. In the football-crazy districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode, Argentina's national team enjoys massive support, a sentiment that soared after Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Minister, a native of Malappuram, had been actively working to bring Messi to Kerala. Sources indicate that one of the motivations behind the government's efforts was political, as local body elections are slated for December, and assembly elections are due in April-May next year, to elect 140 members to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The exposure of this apparent bluff by the Minister has armed the opposition, with both the Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA accusing the Pinarayi Vijayan government of indulging in publicity stunts and misleading the public. With IANS Inputs view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CM seeks Central funds to develop sports infra in TG
New Delhi/Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday requested Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukh L Mandaviya to conduct Khelo India Games-2026 in Telangana. The Chief Minister also appealed to the Union Minister to consider the possibility of hosting National Games and other national and international games in Telangana in the future. During a meeting with the Union Minister at the latter's official residence in Delhi on Monday, Revanth Reddy explained to him the requirement of funds for the development of sports infrastructure, training of athletes, selection of sports experts and other programmes under Khelo India. The CM said that Rs 100 crore would be needed to develop sport infrastructure, mainly the construction of synthetic athletic track and multipurpose indoor stadium in Bhuvanagiri, swimming pool in Rayagiri, synthetic athletic track in Palamuru University, Mahbubnagar, multipurpose hall in Satavahana University, Karimnagar. He also said that funds are needed for archery range and synthetic hockey field in Hakimpet, Hyderabad; squash court, natural football field development and synthetic track in LB Stadium; renovation of hockey ground in Gachibowli and synthetic athletic track in Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda. Revanth Reddy also informed the Union Minister that the state government was already making every effort to improve sports facilities and requested adequate cooperation from the Centre. He appealed to the Union Minister to organize at least two events in the Olympics to be held in the country in 2036 in Telangana and provide fare concession in train travel to the sports persons who participated in national level games in the past.
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy requests Union Minister of Sports to conduct 'Khelo India Games'
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has requested Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukh L Mandaviya to conduct 'Khelo India Games-2026' in Telangana, according to the official statement. The Chief Minister also appealed to the Union Minister to consider the possibility of hosting the National Games and other national and international games, along with Khelo India, in Telangana state in the future, as per the release. According to the official statement, CM Revanth Reddy met with Mansukh L Mandaviya at his official residence in Delhi today. During the meeting, the CM requested for allocation of funds for the development of sports infrastructure, training of athletes, selection of sports experts and other programs under Khelo India. The Chief Minister said that it required Rs 100 crore to develop sports infrastructure, mainly the construction of a synthetic athletic track and multipurpose indoor stadium in Bhuvanagiri, a swimming pool in Rayagiri, a synthetic athletic track in Palamuru University, Mahabubnagar, a multipurpose hall in Satavahana University, Karimnagar, an Archery range and a Synthetic Hockey field in Hakimpet, Hyderabad, squash court, natural football field development and a synthetic track in LB Stadium, renovation of hockey ground in Gachibowli and a synthetic athletic track in Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, as per the release. The Chief Minister briefed the Union Minister that the state government was already making every effort to improve sports facilities and requested adequate cooperation from the centre. The CM also appealed to the union minister to organise at least two events in the Olympics to be held in the country in 2036 in Telangana and provide fare concessions in train travel to the sports persons who participated in national-level games like in the past. According to the official statement, State Government Advisor (Sports) AP Jitender Reddy, MPs Mallu Ravi and Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, CM Special Secretary Ajit Reddy and Secretary for Coordination of Central Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes Dr. Gaurav Uppal are present in the meeting. (ANI)
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Government effects changes in portfolios for IAS officers in Puducherry
Krishna Mohan Uppu has been appointed Development Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Puducherry Government and will handle subjects, such as Finance, Revenue and Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, Rural Development. Besides being appointed as Chairman of District Rural Development Agency, he would also function as the link officer for the subjects of Higher and Technical Education, School Education, Sports and Youth Affairs and Forests and Wildlife until further orders, a notification issued by Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan said. Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government A. Muthamma in addition to the charges already held by her will also function as Project Director, Project Implementation Agency and Nodal Officer, ADB Project. Secretary to Government Jayanta Kumar Ray in addition to the charges already held by him will handle Social Welfare, Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare, and function as Chairman, PONCARE. He has also been appointed as Managing Director, Pondicherry Co-operative Sugar Mills. Secretary to Government R. Smitha has been allotted subjects of Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Labour, Special Secretary-cum-Director of Science, Technology and Environment besides being appointed as Managing Director, REAP. Pankaj Kumar Jha will in addition to the charges already held by him will handle Economics and Statistics, the notification said. Secretary to Government R. Kesavan will hold additional charge as Special Secretary, Cabinet and Confidential Department and will function as Secretary of Law. Secretary to Government Mohammed Ahsan Abid will handle Art and Culture and Information and Publicity. Additional charge for Kulothungan Special Secretary (Revenue) and Puducherry District Collector A. Kulothungan has been given additional charge of District Collector of Karaikal region. He will hold charge of Karaikal region till A. S. P .S Ravi Prakash, who has been appointed as District Collector, Karaikal region resumes duty. Mr. Kulothungan will hold charge as Commissioner, Excise and HRI and Waqf
