"I was in Paris the other day, celebrating with our shooters" - India's pistol coach Samaresh Jung welcomed in India with notice to evacuate
The euphoria of guiding India’s pistol shooters to an unprecedented two medals at the ongoing Paris Olympics lasted only for a few hours for national pistol coach Samaresh Jung. He was welcomed back in India with a disheartening notice that left him with a mere 48 hours to vacate his house in the national capital.
Jung, who guided Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh to bronze medals at the Paris Games, was taken aback when he learnt that the house, where his family has been staying for the past seven decades, and locality are scheduled for demolition in two days.
No time to rejoice for Samaresh Jung
The former Olympian, a resident of the Khyber Pass locality in the Civil Lines area of the national capital, received the notice from the Land and Development Office (LNDO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It claimed that the land on which the colony is located belongs to the Ministry of Defence and is therefore illegal.
In an exclusive with Sportskeeda, Jung maintained that he had no problems in vacating the place but was upset by the timeline set by the LNDO. Appealing for clarity on the issue, the coach said that the residents should be given at least two months to evict the land.
“Everything took place all of a sudden, I was in Paris the other day, celebrating with our shooters, and suddenly after landing back in India, I got to know that the place where we have been living since the 1950’s has been declared illegal,” he said.
Jung said it was announced last evening that they have to vacate the area within two days.
“I was disappointed with the timeline given to us to vacate the place. It’s strange, how can someone vacate the place where you’re living for decades in just two days. We approached the court but our petition was rejected,” he said.
Samaresh Jung took to social media to express displeasure
Jung, who won five gold, one silver and one bronze in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, also took to social media platform X to express his anguish.
“After the euphoria of Indian shooters winning two Olympic medals, I, the team coach, just returned home from the Olympics to the disheartening news that my house and locality is to be demolished in 2 days,” Samaresh posted.
Jung, a participant at the Beijing 2008 Olympics said as an Olympian, the least he expected is a dignified exit while also appealing for “at least 2 months to vacate” along with a clarity on the matter.
“There has been no proper information or notice. How can families living here since 75 years vacate in 2 days? It is shocking that @LDO_GoI makes a haphazard announcement of demolition with a notice of 2 days, without any clarity of the exact area to be demolished,” he said.
“Being an Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, least I expect, along with community, is a dignified exit. I appeal for clarity on the matter and at least 2 months to vacate properly,” Jung concluded.
He also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in his post, along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar and IOA vice president and fellow shooter Gagan Narang, who is currently in Paris with the Indian contingent as the Chef de Mission.