Stadium row in Ganderbal: M A Shah questions access, seeks youth-centric sports policy

Ganderbal, Feb 28: A fresh political debate has erupted in Ganderbal after Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited his Assembly constituency to inaugurate and lay the foundation of developmental works worth Rs 81 crore few days back.
During the interaction with media persons after the function, the Chief Minister was asked about his previous visit where he inaugurated a sports stadium constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore. The stadium, featuring a synthetic football turf and a synthetic athletic track, had earlier been projected as a landmark initiative to boost sports culture in the district.
However, journalists raised concerns that local youth are allegedly being denied free access to the facility, questioning the utility of such a costly project if aspiring players from the area cannot benefit from it.
Responding to the query, Omar Abdullah clarified that the stadium is primarily meant for the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) and stated that he would ask the college administration to consider allowing local players access after proper verification procedures.
Reacting sharply to the Chief Minister’s remarks, senior BJP leader Mohammad Amin Shah, former BJP District President and currently a State Executive Member of the party, accused the government of “misleading the youth of Ganderbal.”
Mohammad Amin Shah stated that the stadium was earlier presented as a mega sports infrastructure project aimed at nurturing local talent and enabling youth to compete at national and international levels. “If the Rs 11 crore project was exclusively meant for the college, why were local youth made to believe it was built for them?” he asked.
He argued that sports infrastructure developed with public funds must primarily serve the aspirations of the local population, especially in districts like Ganderbal where many talented youngsters lack access to quality facilities.
Shah further pointed out that the Government College of Physical Education, Gadoora (GCOPE), is a state-level institution admitting students from across Jammu & Kashmir for B.P. Ed. and M.P. Ed. programmes, which are teacher-training courses in physical education.
According to Shah, while the college serves an academic purpose, its students are primarily training to become physical education teachers and may not necessarily represent J&K or India in competitive sports.
“The purpose of such high-end synthetic infrastructure should be to groom competitive athletes who can bring laurels to the district and the Union Territory,” Shah remarked.
He emphasized that Ganderbal has immense untapped sporting potential, particularly in football and athletics, but lacks consistent access to world-class infrastructure.
“Our youth are highly talented, but talent without access and encouragement goes to waste,” he added.
Mohammad Amin Shah has demanded full-time, free access to the Gadoora stadium for verified local youth, arguing that a balanced mechanism can be devised where both the college and district-level players benefit from the facility.
In addition, he called for the appointment of a competent full-time Principal/HOD at the Government College of Physical Education, Gadoora, through a transparent and merit-based procedure as laid down by constitutional norms. He stressed that leadership positions in key educational and sports institutions must be filled strictly on merit to ensure professionalism and accountability.
The controversy has sparked a broader discussion in the district about the government’s sports policy and whether infrastructure investments are aligned with grassroots development. While the government highlights large-scale spending on development works, critics argue that true progress will be measured by how effectively such projects empower local communities.
As political reactions continue, many in Ganderbal believe the issue goes beyond party lines and centers on a common demand: ensuring that public infrastructure serves public interest — particularly the youth, who represent the district’s future.
Whether the Omar-led government revisits the access policy of the Gadoora stadium remains to be seen, but the debate has undeniably brought youth development in Ganderbal back to the forefront of public discourse.