Haryana government has suspended an order where athletes were asked to hand a third of their earnings to the state. 

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Haryana CM ML Khattar said that he has has has asked the notification to be put on hold till further orders. The government diktat instructed the athletes employed by state government departments to deposit one-third of the income earned through sports activities and commercial endorsements with the state’s Sports Council.

He said on twitter, "I have asked for the relevant file of Sports Dept to be shown to me & the notification to be put on hold till further orders. We are proud of immense contribution by our sports persons & I assure them of a just consideration of all issues."

The move has sparked a backlash with athletes like Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Manoj Kumar, Babita and Vinesh Phogat questioning the government's notification. 

What is the notification?

The notification issued by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department stipulates two conditions governing the participation of sportspersons—employed in any department of the state government, or any body controlled by the state government.

One, that “one-third of the income earned by the sportsperson from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council (sic)”.

Secondly, that sportspersons “treated on duty with the prior approval of the competent authority while taking part in professional sports or commercial endorsements, the full income earned by the sportsperson on this account will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council”.

The diktat came in a letter dated 30 April, signed by Ashok Khemka, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department. It claims that the money should be used for the development of sports in the state.The diktat has however left many sportpersons, who have represented the state at national and international level, shocked and frustrated. Here’s a collection of angry reactions of athletes and sports lovers:

Players not happy

The athletes employed with the state government include star boxers Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar, both of whom are DSPs in state police, hockey captain Sardar Singh and wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat. Sardar, Geeta and Babita are also employed with the Haryana Police.

Of them, Babita, who won a silver at the Gold Coast CWG, was the only one to react to the move, calling it disheartening.

"This notification will hamper an athletes preparation. How can the government give such an order? We pay taxes over whatever we earn and now this notification to pay one-third," Phogat told PTI.

"Can the government understand how much sacrifice an athlete and his or families have to make to earn a medal for the country? The Haryana government should immediately take this order back and review it," he added.

Some other Haryana athletes, not employed with the state government, also reacted with shock. 

"I have not yet seen the notification, I am only coming to know of it through media reports. I can only say that the athletes who compete in Olympic sports are already from very poor families," said double-Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who is with the Railways Sports Promotion Board. 

"The government should make policies which encourage athletes. I haven't heard of such a policy anywhere else in the world. The athlete should be competing with a free mind, not with stress like this," he added. 

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat expressed her anger saying, "This is not done at all. For quite some time now, these things have been going on in Haryana. I don't know why the government has initiated this battle against the athletes. Every day, some diktat or the other is coming through. This should not happen, but it's still happening," she was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

Manoj Kumar, one of India's top boxers, said, "We only get third or fourth class jobs in the government. These jobs pay so little and yet, we are ready to pay the tax. I believe that all athletes should be relieved of taxes."

Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, took to Twitter to share his reaction. He tweeted, "God save us from such officials, who are taking senseless decisions like this. Their contribution to the development of sports in Haryana has been zero but I am sure, they will play a big role in the decline of sports in the state. Now, athletes will move to other states and these officials will be responsible for this."

The debate has turned political as well with many opposition leaders also criticising the government for the decision.