The Congress MPs from Haryana staged a protest in the Parliament complex demanding that Haryana be included in hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda said Haryana has made one of the highest contributions of medal-winning athletes in international competitions and therefore should be given an opportunity to host, or at least co-host, the Games.
The protest was attended by Deepender Singh Hooda along with Congress MPs Jaiprakash (JP), Varun Mulana, Satpal Brahmachari and Karmbir Bauddh. The MPs urged the Central Government to designate Haryana as the host or at least a co-host state for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Hooda said Haryana is among the states that have produced the highest number of medal-winning athletes for India. He argued that since athletes from the state have consistently won the highest number of medals for the country in international competitions, Haryana should also be given an appropriate role in hosting the Games.
Citing the state's medal performances, Hooda said Haryana athletes won seven of India's 13 gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He also recalled that Haryana athletes secured 24 of India's 39 gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
He said Haryana accounts for about two percent of India's population but its athletes win the highest number of medals for the country in international sporting events. He said the state's contribution should be recognised by giving it an opportunity to host sporting events.
During the protest, Hooda alleged that Haryana received comparatively lower budget allocations under schemes such as Khelo India while other states received higher allocations. He said resources and opportunities should be distributed fairly in the interest of athletes.
Hooda also said the demand had been raised repeatedly inside and outside Parliament that if India secures the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics, Haryana should be included as part of the event. However, he said the demand was not accepted after the Ministry of Sports announced that the event would be confined to Ahmedabad.
Hooda said that if full hosting rights cannot be granted to Haryana, the state should at least be given co-host status. According to him, this would further strengthen the state's athletes, sports infrastructure and sporting culture. He said Haryana's athletes win medals not only for the state but for the entire country and should receive recognition commensurate with their contribution.
He said the issue would continue to be raised on various platforms and that political and democratic efforts would continue to secure Haryana's appropriate participation in future sporting events.
