Olympian Anju Bobby George has accused Kerala’s Sports Minister EP Jayarajan of threatening her and other members of the Kerala Sports Council, which she heads.
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The minister, who was soon mauled on social media for the blunder said that “a mistake is a mistake” and hoped the state’s enlightened people and sports personalities would understand his folly. “I don’t know why she is making these allegations”, he said.
Further stating that Anju told him that she did not have any allegiances to any political party, the Chief Minister added that he had assured her that he did not consider her as a representative of any political party.
George and other council members had assembled for the first meeting with the Sports Minister when he accused them of being opposed to the ruling party.
“She told me that the minister enquired about her using flights for travel”. Recently, they had also started Elite Training Centres for Athletics, Volleyball and Swimming.
In reality, Robert Bobby George, who is a former National Champion in triple jump, is Anju’s husband. He said he was not aware if the athlete had complained to the chief minister.
Asked if she planned to quit her post, Anju said she had not taken a decision yet.
“Have you thought we would not come to power?”
Pinarayi consoled her saying that the government did not hold such views and everyone had a clear idea about her. “No, never”, he told reporters when asked if, as Anju had alleged, he behaved rudely.
“We went to meet the Sports Minister as he is a newly elected leader”.
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Jayarajan, who denied the charge, found himself at the centre of another controversy days after leaving the CPI (M)- led LDF government red-faced when he described boxing icon Muhammad Ali as a sportsman from Kerala during his obituary reference. “He said there was a lot of corruption and posting and transfers were not done in a proper manner in the council”, the hugely popular athlete said. “He flagged the fame of Kerala sky-high by winning a gold medal”, he told a Malayalam TV news channel.
