Dhanbad: Hundreds of children and youth took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the proposed Disneyland fair at the Randhir Verma Stadium (Golf Ground) in Dhanbad. Protesters marched from Golf Ground to Randhir Verma Chowk, demanding the ground be kept safe for sports activities. Children carried posters and placards demanding a fair-free ground. During the protest, they expressed concern over the impact of long-term fairs on sports activities in the ground.
Opposition from players to the fair at Golf Ground has surfaced earlier as well. In September, players and local youth submitted memorandums to public representatives, demanding the ground be preserved for sports.
Regular Practice Disrupted, Claim Protesters
Protesting children and youth stated that a large number of youngsters regularly practice cricket, football, and other sports at Golf Ground. According to them, using a major part of the ground for fairs for long periods disrupts practice, forcing players to look for alternative spaces.
Sports lovers say that fairs are held temporarily, but they disrupt players' regular practice. Protesters demanded that if other locations are available in the city, those should be considered for fairs, and Golf Ground should be reserved for sports.
Applications Submitted Earlier
According to protesters, they have previously submitted written applications to the district administration, municipal corporation, and public representatives to save the ground from fairs. Players said that despite this, the process of setting up the Disneyland fair at Golf Ground on the occasion of Durga Puja has intensified the protest. In September, players also met Dumri MLA Jairam Mahto, demanding no fairs be held on the ground.
Reference to Representatives' Stance
Players mentioned that the issue of holding fairs at Golf Ground has been raised at the level of public representatives before. Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha and other representatives had spoken about keeping the ground safe for sports. In September, MLA Raj Sinha publicly stated that long-term non-sporting activities affect players' practice.
Protesters demanded that the district administration and municipal corporation reconsider the decision to host the proposed fair. They stated that Golf Ground is a vital practice venue for the children and youth of Dhanbad, so it should be used primarily for sports.
Following the march, the controversy over holding the fair at the ground has resurfaced. Children and youth participating in the protest said that if a positive decision is not made on their demand, they will continue their democratic agitation.
