Nara Lokesh Welcomes Cricketer Hanuma Vihari Back to Andhra

Amravati: Minister for Human Resources Development (HRD), Nara Lokesh, on Tuesday welcomed cricketer Hanuma Vihari back in the state. The Andhra Pradesh minister said that the state government is extending a very warm welcome to the star cricketer and Telugu luminary, Hanuma Vihari, back in state who has resigned to the captaincy of the Andhra cricket team in a humiliating manner due to excessive political interference.

In a press note, released here Lokesh said the people have vociferously rejected the political outfit which acted in a dictatorial manner forgetting the basic fact that political interference should not be there in sports. The previous government has started its political game by appointing P Sarath Chandra Reddy, who is an accused in the Delhi liquor scam, as the president of the AP Cricket Association, Lokesh said.

An outstanding and exceptional cricketer like Hanuma Vihari, who has unparalleled talent, has been harassed abysmally and was also insulted by the Andhra Cricket Association only to promote the son of their party leader, Kuntrapakam Prithviraj, who was the 17th player in the team, Lokesh pointed out in the press note. Hanuma Vihari, who was totally fed up with the style of functioning of the Andhra Cricket Association opted out of the captaincy.

“You all know that soon after learning about this, the Chief Minister and TDP supremo, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief,   Pawan Kalyan, and I responded immediately and solidly stood by   Hanuma Vihari,” Lokesh said in the note. #WeStandWithHanuma too received tremendous response in social media, the Minister said and added that several cricket fans expressed solidarity with Hanuma Vihari.

The then system too came in the way of Hanuma Vihari to train the cricket aspirants with all his talent and refused to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) to head the cricket team of other States,  Lokesh mentioned in the press note. One can easily assess how was the vengeful attitude that Hanuma Vihari was issued the NOC only after witnessing the enormous victory of the NDA in the State, he said and made it clear that the Alliance will be much ahead of all in promoting sports beyond any political considerations.

"We will take all the necessary measures to encourage sportsmanship in all games and the TDP-led Alliance Government is ready to do justice to  Hanuma Vihari as promised," Nara Lokesh observed.