Vij’s Rs 50 L donation to Dera stirs hornet’s nest

Ahead of the assembly polls in Haryana, the Dera had extended support to the BJP. While slamming the BJP minister’s move, JDU spokesperson KC Tyagi said, “It is a known fact that Dera Sacha Sauda had supported BJP during assembly elections and this donation is a return gift. Dera Sacha Sauda doesn’t promote any professional sports, so why is this donation being made?”   

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan, said, “Vij is the same minister who visited the beaches in Rio at the expense of exchequer. His donation is only payback time to Dera Sacha Sauda for earlier favours and has nothing to do with sports. Anil Vij should reconsider his decision.”   

The donation was announced by Vij at Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa district on Saturday after he witnessed a sporting event.

Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was also present.

“It is a very good thing. Along with religion, education and games are there, that means they are trying to prepare a complete human being,” Vij said.

“He is encouraging the games. Since the schools are also encouraging games here, I would like to donate Rs 50 Lakh from my discretionary fund,” he said here on Saturday night. Notably, all the games played inside the academy are created by Gurmeet Ram Rahim himself and are not played at national or international level.

Vij had led a Haryana delegation to Rio Olympics recently.

After a match here on Saturday, Vij said the tournament is a great mixture of different games. He said this “combo” fits the present trend.

Vij said, “Dera Sacha Sauda is already promoting sports for a long time and now BJP government will promote all sports related activities by making 20 Olympic Nurseries. In each Haryana district about 400 Nurseries (subsidiaries) will be set up”, he said.

“These Nurseries will provide many athletes for next Olympics”, he added.