BJP criticises Khali's show in Dehradun

DEHRADUN: Criticising the "The Great Khali Show", Uttarakhand BJP today said arranging a wrestling show in the name of promoting sports ahead of the proposed 2018 National Games is wrong.

Speaking about the show that was a part of 'CM for Youth' programme in the state, spokesperson of the state BJP unit, Munna Singh Chauhan said, "This type of wrestling is not a sport and thus it cannot encourage sports.

"In reality, this cannot be called a sport even. In the western countries this is a form of entertainment."

Referring to attack on former WWE wrestler Dalip Singh Rana, better known by his ring name 'The Great Khali', by a foreign wrestler with a chair, during a show in Haldwani, the BJP spokesperson said, "This sport is very violent and this country's law doesn't permit it."

"A foreign wrestler injured Khali. FIR should not be registered in this matter. In a country where even some traditional sports have been stopped citing cruelty to animals, how come this kind of show is being allowed," he said.

Pointing out that Khali was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is planning to fight again tomorrow in Dehradun, Chauhan termed the event as a facade and said that it was a fixed match carried out to advertise the 'CM for Youth' programme.

Khali had suffered head and chest injuries on Wednesday night at the show in Haldwani and was subsequently airlifted the next morning to a speciality hospital in Dehradun.