Coal town sports lovers are unhappy with the government’s move to rename Randhir Prasad Verma stadium. The golf ground that has been recently revamped is all set to be inaugurated tomorrow by chief minister Hemant Soren on the occasion of two years of completion of his government. The ground had earlier been named after former SP of Dhanbad Late Randhir Prasad Verma, an Ashok Chakra Awardee. Many believe that the rechristening is an insult to the former SP.

A former cricketer of Dhanbad, Rajan Sinha, has launched a social media campaign in this regard that has garnered the support of several social workers, cricketers, sportsmen as well as political leaders. Sinha who is also the founder member of voluntary organization Rising Charitable trust said that after the renovation the park has been rechristened as UDHD Government of Jharkhand, Garden and Gym, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation.

“This is nothing but a clear cut disrespect to a martyr who laid down his life, who single-handedly took on the militants engaged in a bank dacoity attempt in Dhanbad,” said Sinha who raised the issue through his facebook wall today.

According to Sinha there was no need of changing the name of a park established in the name of a valiant police officer of the district who has also been awarded Ashok Chakra by the government. Sinha feels that there is no political motive involved in raising the issue as being sportsmen they are attached to the park. Randhir Prasad Verma took part in various sporting activities including horse riding.

Sinha is miffed by the fact that there are people who say that the name of Late Randhir Prasad Verma is mentioned in the plaque. He feels that this is nothing but a hollow argument because how many people look at the plaque,” said Sinha.

Nitin Bhatt, BJP leader while echoing similar sentiments, said, , “I fully endorse the point raised by Sinha through social media as removing the name of a martyr from the main gate of the newly renovated part which will be inaugurated tomorrow by the CM is akin to disrespect.”