Leader of Opposition and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Friday, 4 September congratulated medal-winning athletes from the state who have finally secured appointments to Haryana Civil Service (HCS) and Haryana Police Service (HPS) posts — but used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for what he called a deliberate effort to deny athletes their rightful positions.

Eight-Year Legal Battle Ends in Court Rebuke

The athletes had to wage an eight-year-long legal battle before the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered their appointment to HCS and HPS posts. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the Haryana government — a ruling Hooda described as 'a stinging rebuke' to the BJP administration. 'The BJP government made every possible effort to deny them their positions, dignity, and entitlements,' the two-time Chief Minister said in a statement.

BJP's 'Anti-Athlete Mindset', Says Hooda

Hooda argued that the episode is symptomatic of a broader pattern. 'It is not just athletes; this government harbours hostility towards Haryana's employees, contractual staff, and unemployed youth struggling for jobs,' he said. He pointed to the government's alleged reluctance to regularise protesting sanitation workers and guest teachers, despite High Court and Supreme Court rulings upholding a regularisation policy framed during the Congress government's tenure. He also alleged that the government was failing to honour commitments made to Kaushal Nigam (skill corporation) employees.

Congress-Era 'Padak Lao, Pad Pao' Policy

Hooda credited the Congress government's flagship 'Padak Lao, Pad Pao' (win a medal, get a post) scheme with driving Haryana's sporting success on the national and global stage. Under the policy, medal-winning athletes were eligible for prestigious Class I and Class II appointments, including direct induction as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs). 'This policy yielded tremendous results in Haryana, with our athletes bringing glory to the nation on the global stage. Athletes from Haryana outperformed those from other states in almost every discipline,' Hooda said.

Rules Changed Under BJP, Hooda Alleges

The former Chief Minister alleged that the BJP government altered the rules governing athlete appointments to high-ranking posts such as DSP, effectively rolling back the gains of the earlier policy. He claimed the BJP 'could not tolerate' Haryana's sporting dominance and moved to dilute the incentive structure. Hooda added that the BJP administration has 'hardly managed to complete any recruitment process without facing stern court directives' — a charge the ruling party has not yet formally responded to.

What Comes Next

With the High Court's order now in force and a penalty imposed on the state government, the affected athletes are expected to receive their appointments. The political battle, however, is likely to intensify as Hooda frames athlete welfare as a key opposition plank ahead of future electoral cycles in Haryana.