Accusing the media of spreading false news regarding the food served to athletes participating in the Meghalaya Games 2024 in Tura, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shakliar Warjri today said that the report that junk food was served to the athletes was false.
During question hour in the House today, opposition VPP MLA from Nongkrem, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit while raising the issue also referred to a video circulating within the State about the junk food served to the athletes.
Warjri in his reply said that light snacks had been served during the opening ceremony of the games which also included the visit of the President of India Draupadi Murmu as the chief guest.
“Due to the visit of the President of India as chief guest there were certain protocols we had to follow. So we had asked all the athletes to have a heavy breakfast. Before leaving their venues we had asked that they be served brunch. So during the day, only light snacks were served to them. But we also provided them with an early dinner,” the sports minister said.
“We are not denying that we took a decision to serve only light snacks at the inaugural. In the world of social media everyone can spread anything and at any time and only 1 or 2 per cent have taken that video and spread it,” Warjri added.
Since Warjri termed the news reports and video as false, Basaiawmoit sought a reply from the minister on the action taken by the government against the media houses that spread such news.
The sports minister said that no action was taken against those who spread the video because, “one or two persons had spread the photo”.
Unsatisfied by the reply of the minister, Basaiawmoit said, “You cannot deny the fact that the video was circulated and people of the State have seen the news.”
