Vijay Goel is the gift that keeps on giving.
India’s sports minister has been in the news more than most of the 118 Indian athletes who participated at Rio Olympics. And for all the wrong reasons.
Just to jog your memory, he first posted a ridiculous selfie with an exhausted Vikas Krishan, then wished Dipa Karmakar – but called her ‘Karmankar’ – and tweeted out Dutee Chand’s picture while wishing Srabani Nanda.
He was also pulled up by the organisers of Rio 2016 for letting unaccredited companions trying to enter accredited areas at venues and showing “aggressive and rude” behaviour.
Now that the Olympics is over, you would think Mr. Goel will give it a rest? Well, you thought wrong.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Goel told the reporters that the PM Narendra Modi will meet the *gold medallists* from Rio Olympics, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik.
No, really. See for yourself.
#WATCH “Rio Olympics gold medallists PV Sindhu & Sakshi Malik met PM Modi today,” says Sports Minister Vijay Goelhttps://t.co/5LiKwExkv7
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2016
He quickly issued a retraction, saying it was a mere slip of the tongue.
People shouldn’t make an issue out of a slip of tongue, this can happen at times: Sports Minister Vijay Goel pic.twitter.com/ofwVtYKLH4
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2016
Usually, we would like to give the benefit of doubt in such cases but with Goel we know this is not an one-off.
And he did not stop there for the day.
Met @SunielVShetty, discussed constructive steps for the encouragement & development of Sports in India. pic.twitter.com/PtmWiFcJQf
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) August 28, 2016
Yes, Sunil Shetty. For encouragement and development for sports. No, we don’t know why either.
Excellent step sir @VijayGoelBJP. He is the go to man after Abhinav Bindra. pic.twitter.com/vDfPl5lppA
— Moron of the day (@MoronullahAlert) August 28, 2016
.@VijayGoelBJP @SunielVShetty Modiji should also meet him soon to discuss the border isuue. pic.twitter.com/hROdoCM3GK
— डि.के. (@itsdhruvism) August 28, 2016
. @VijayGoelBJP Ajay Jadeja also played this Khel. pic.twitter.com/bi9OOURCHD
— Anurag Kotoky (@anuragkotoky) August 28, 2016
He has become the figurehead of the apathy of Indian officials towards our athletes.
Which is, y’know, like the exact opposite of what he’s expected to as the sports minister.
Maybe he just doesn’t want the job and he is dropping hints asking for a transfer? That’s the best explanation we could come up with.