The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today said it is imperative to honor the state’s legends and icons who have contributed immensely in different fields of life.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the first Maharaja Hari Singh Gold Cup Football tournament organized by Jammu and Kashmir Football Association in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police at GGM Science College.MLA East, Rajesh Gupta, Director General Police Dr S P Vaid, Ex-Minister Gulchain Singh Charak and several prominent citizens and sports persons were present.The Deputy Chief Minister while highlighting the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh said he has contributed in every sphere of life and the same is of historic nature. He said his special focus was on educating the weaker and downtrodden sections of the society and he ensured that free education is introduced in the State.
Dr Singh said that by organizing the football tournament in the name of late Maharaja, the organizers have done a commendable job as it would come up as a regular feature and the younger generation especially the sports persons would also come to know about the historic work and contribution of the Maharaja.Deputy Chief Minister further said that the sports activities ensure that the energies of youth are channelized in a proper and coordinated direction and does not get swayed by other tendencies. He said the government has undertaken several measures for catalyzing the sports activities and in this regard several national and international tournaments have been organized whereby our youth get an opportunity of competing with several stall wards and get the requisite exposure to excel at various fora.MLA East, Rajesh Gupta also spoke on the occasion highlighting the contribution of the late Maharaja.DG Police in his speech said that the sports is a medium by which the youth get the requisite platform to exhibit their latent talent. He said that it also takes away them from the global menace of drug addiction and narcotics.