BJP MP Anurag Thakur becomes the new Youth Affairs and Sports Minister and Information and Broadcasting Minister as well.

The MP from Himachal Pradesh was the Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs previously. On Wednesday he got the charge of both Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

He is one of the six junior ministers to get a promotion to the union cabinet. Along with Anurag Thakur, Hardeep Singh Puri, Parshottam Rupala, Kiren Rijiju, G Kishan Reddy, and Mansukh Mandaviya are the other ministers who joined him to the union cabinet.

A total of 36 new ministers join the government today. Thakur is one of the 15 new cabinet ministers who took oath on Wednesday.

In 2019 he was inducted into the Modi government and was given the charge of the Ministry of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs. As a candidate of BJP, he was elected to Lok Sabha in a by-poll in May 2008. Later he was also selected for the 14th, 15th, and 16th Lok Sabha.

Just 16 days before the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Thakur replaced Kiren Rijiju and became the new Sports Minister of India. Olympics will definitely be one of his main goals as a Minister right now.

Read also: Indian Athletes Qualified for 2020 Olympics in Tokyo: In Detail

Also, he was the president of the BCCI from May 2016 to February 2017. Before becoming the president of BCCI, he was also the secretary of the board and the head of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

Ahead of the much-awaited Paris Olympics 2024, newly appointed Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday held a review meeting on India's preparations for the Olympic in New Delhi. 

Also Read: Rohan Bopanna qualifies for Paris Olympics 2024

This was the first time that the Sports Minister met Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha. Apart from Mansukh Mandaviya and PT Usha, Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan and Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse were also present in this meeting. IOA President PT Usha shared his experiences after talking to Mansukh Mandaviya. 

"I today visited the IOA officials for the first time where they briefed me about India's preparation for Paris Olympics. The government is committed to extend all possible support," Mandaviya said in a brief address to the media.

Along with the Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya will also hold the post of Union Labor and Employment Minister. Mandaviya replaces Anurag Thakur, who held the post of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports during PM Modi's second term.

Mandaviya took oath as Union Minister during the oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

'Already 97 athletes have qualified'

"The Sports Minister today visited our IOA along with the Minister of State for Sports and I am so happy that they wanted to know about IOA and about the Paris preparation. We have done everything good this time and I have briefed him everything. We will be in contact every week and I hope that this good for our Olympic athletes," PT Usha said.

"We have done everything for sports persons. Our first preference were the athletes, whatever the players want we have done this time. So we are expecting more medals this than Tokyo. I don't want to put any number and give tension to the players."

"Already 97 athletes have qualified, and we are expecting around 115 to 120 athletes to represent India in Paris Olympics," Usha added.

Also Read: NRAI announces 15-member Indian rifle and pistol shooting squad for Paris Olympics 2024

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, Mandaviya had contested from Porbandar in Gujarat. He won by a margin of 3,83,360 votes. Mandaviya defeated Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress. 

The Paris Olympics 2024 will begin on July 26 and run through August 11.

After calling for talks with the government, wrestler Bajrang Punia has reached Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's residence to meet him. Wrestlers Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyawart Kadian also reached Anurag Thakur's house.

Also Read: Wrestlers' Protest: Wrestlers will shed their Olympic medals in the Ganga, said Vinesh Phogat

A day earlier on Tuesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had sent an invitation for talks to the players agitating against Brij Bhushan. Anurag Thakur had tweeted, "The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same."

The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.

I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023

Before reaching for talks, wrestler Sakshi Malik said that they will take the decision about the government's proposal only after everyone's consent. Regarding ending the protest, she had said that they will listen to the government. It will not happen if they accept anything of the government and end their protest. Earlier on Saturday, the agitating wrestlers had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This meeting was seen as an attempt by the government to break the deadlock in the case of wrestlers. 

Two days after meeting with the Home Minister, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia reached the railway office for work related to their jobs. They claimed that these wrestlers distanced themselves from the performance. However, both had made it clear that they had not given up their fight. They tweeted that the fight will continue till justice will come. If they have to leave their job for this, they will leave it.

Thakur had earlier assured the wrestlers of a fair trial and justice. Following allegations that the BJP-led central government is shielding the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj, Thakur had clarified and said that they were not saving anyone and that the government wants a fair investigation. The Delhi Police meanwhile had reached Brij Bhushan Singh's residence in UP's Gonda and recorded statements of 12 people in connection with the allegations. The police also collected the addresses and identity cards of the people who gave their statements. The Special Investigation Team has so far gathered statements from 137 people in connection with the case. 

Also Read: Protesting wrestlers criticized Brij Bhushan's comment on their medals as reprehensible

Brij Bhushan Singh has been accused of sexually assaulting women wrestlers for many years. Two FIRs were registered against the WFI chief on April 28. One of the FIRs was based on the complaint of the father of a minor wrestler which invoked the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Moreover, Brij Bhushan Singh has been charged under multiple Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections. These include assaulting a woman to outrage her modesty (section 354), sexual harassment (354A), and stalking (354D). He has also been accused of seeking sexual favors in return for helping these wrestlers in their careers. 

After calling for talks with the government, wrestler Bajrang Punia has reached Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's residence to meet him. Wrestlers Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyawart Kadian also reached Anurag Thakur's house.

Also Read: Wrestlers' Protest: Wrestlers will shed their Olympic medals in the Ganga, said Vinesh Phogat

A day earlier on Tuesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had sent an invitation for talks to the players agitating against Brij Bhushan. Anurag Thakur had tweeted, "The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same."

The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.

I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023

Before reaching for talks, wrestler Sakshi Malik said that they will take the decision about the government's proposal only after everyone's consent. Regarding ending the protest, she had said that they will listen to the government. It will not happen if they accept anything of the government and end their protest. Earlier on Saturday, the agitating wrestlers had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This meeting was seen as an attempt by the government to break the deadlock in the case of wrestlers. 

Two days after meeting with the Home Minister, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia reached the railway office for work related to their jobs. They claimed that these wrestlers distanced themselves from the performance. However, both had made it clear that they had not given up their fight. They tweeted that the fight will continue till justice will come. If they have to leave their job for this, they will leave it.

Thakur had earlier assured the wrestlers of a fair trial and justice. Following allegations that the BJP-led central government is shielding the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj, Thakur had clarified and said that they were not saving anyone and that the government wants a fair investigation. The Delhi Police meanwhile had reached Brij Bhushan Singh's residence in UP's Gonda and recorded statements of 12 people in connection with the allegations. The police also collected the addresses and identity cards of the people who gave their statements. The Special Investigation Team has so far gathered statements from 137 people in connection with the case. 

Also Read: Protesting wrestlers criticized Brij Bhushan's comment on their medals as reprehensible

Brij Bhushan Singh has been accused of sexually assaulting women wrestlers for many years. Two FIRs were registered against the WFI chief on April 28. One of the FIRs was based on the complaint of the father of a minor wrestler which invoked the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Moreover, Brij Bhushan Singh has been charged under multiple Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections. These include assaulting a woman to outrage her modesty (section 354), sexual harassment (354A), and stalking (354D). He has also been accused of seeking sexual favors in return for helping these wrestlers in their careers. 

The Indian Blind Cricket team, who recently won the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind, was felicitated by the Hon. Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (IB) and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in a ceremony conducted by the MYAS in the city. With this recent success, the team has now won a hat trick of T20 World Cup titles.

Also Read: Blind T20 World Cup 2022: India created history by defeating Bangladesh, captured the trophy for the third time

Also present on occasion, besides the entire squad of players and support staff, Shri. Nisith Pramanik, Hon. Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Minister of State of MYAS, Dr. Mahantesh G. K.  President, Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), and Ajay Reddy, Indian Team Captain of Blind Cricket.

The team, led by captain Ajay Kumar Reddy and coach Asif Basha was received with loud cheers amidst the sound of dhols and drums. Shri. Thakur felicitated the players by presenting them with shawls and mementos.

"The Indian Team has made everyone proud by not only winning the title but by winning it three times consecutively and I hope they win it again. The Narendra Modi Government has always supported the specially-abled sportspersons and we will keep supporting them so that they bring more laurels to the country and make her proud"

said Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports

"I would like to extend my gratitude towards the MYAS for supporting CABI: - Dr. G.K Mahantesh

Dr. G.K Mahantesh presented two memorandums seeking support for CABI. The first one was related to releasing grants to the blind cricketers of India. Meanwhile, the second was a request to support CABI with cash grants to nurture and support Blind Cricket.

Read Also: New Zealand without Kane Williamson, Tim Southee for the India series

"I would like to extend my gratitude towards the MYAS for supporting CABI for the welfare and development of the blind cricketers in India. I hope this support will remain in the future as CABI is planning to do more for our cricketers. Especially the women cricketers who will also be introduced to the game", said Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar.

Ajay Reddy, Captain Indian Team, requested recognition and support from the Government to meet the aspirations of Indian Men and Women Cricketers. 

Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction: 6 foreign players franchises will target in the auction

However, India won the World Cup by beating Bangladesh on December 17th in the finals played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, by 120 runs.

The fifth Khelo India Youth Games will be organized in January-February in Madhya Pradesh. Games will be organized in 8 cities of the state- Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Mandla, Maheshwar, and Balaghat. In which more than 7 thousand players will participate in 30 sports. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced this at the sports decoration ceremony held in Delhi on Thursday.

During this program, the torch of the fifth Khelo India Youth Games was handed over to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In this function, players of Madhya Pradesh gave a wonderful presentation of Mallakhamba, The guests present in the program highly appreciated that.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said, "I thank the Hon'ble Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart for giving Madhya Pradesh the chance to host the Khelo India Youth Games. We promise to make it the most special Khelo India games ever and host it keeping in mind our philosophy of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'.

Madhya Pradesh will be the fifth Indian state to host the game

This is the fifth event of the Khelo India Youth Games. It started in the year 2018. So far it has been organized in Delhi, Pune (Maharashtra), Guwahati (Assam), and Panchkula (Haryana). In the last edition, Haryana had organized the tournament.

During this, more than 7 thousand players will come from all over the country to participate in 30 sports. It is a multi-sports event. Only players under 22 years of age can participate. Youth Games have given our nation talented players like Hima Das, Saurabh Chaudhary, Mehuli Ghosh, Manu Bhaker, Unnati Hooda, Akarshi Kashyap.

The upcoming edition of this tournament will feature a total of 27 disciplines. In addition, the water sports will include for the first time in the history of the games. New disciplines like Canoe Slalom, Kayaking, Canoeing and Rowing will also feature alongside the usual sports and indigenous games.