The ongoing tussle between RTI activist Sarbjeet Singh Kahlon and Ludhiana Cricket Association general secretary Vinod Chitkara spilled over to the cricket ground at PAU on Sunday, after Kahlon allegedly abused two players on the ground.
Kahlon and Chitkara have been at war over the issue of election of players for the under-15 team. Kahlon’s son, too, is a cricketer and was not selected for the team, which according to him, was done to accommodate Chitkara’s son. Kahlon even showed some documents to prove that Chitkara’s son was over-aged and did not qualify for the team and that he was using his position to get his son selected.
The police had to be called in to control the situation. The ruckus broke out when Chandigarh was playing Ludhiana in a domestic cricket match. It has been learnt that Kahlon abused players Rahul Singla and Varun Chitkara, who lodged a complaint with the umpire, who took up the matter with game referee Jasvir Singh. Singh, meanwhile, said, “The police are looking into the matter. We will also report the issue to the Punjab Cricket Association.”
Kahlon rubbished the entire issue and said, “The matter is quite the contrary. I reached the ground around 11.30 in the morning. Ajay Singla and his son Varun approached me and started abusing me. I called in the PCA and seeing the police, they backed off. The moment the police returned, these two again began abusing and manhandling me. I went to the police station and recorded my statement . These two never even reached the police station.”
He said, “Like Vinod’s son, Ajay Singla”s son, too, was found over-aged for the under-19 team last year. Chitkara is already facing an FIR filed by me. Moreover, had I abused the boys, why no one else heard the abuses? The umpire or the referee did not hear anything. This shows the complaint is completely false.”