Sending a child for a national sports competition should be a moment of pride for any parent. But for many families in Rajasthan right now, that pride has been replaced by a heavy sense of dread. Their children, selected to represent the state in school-level games, are currently in Manipur a state that has been grappling with intense instability for a long time.The situation has now reached the corridors of power, with former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot raising serious concerns about the safety of these young athletes.When Sports Meets a Security CrisisThe issue isn't about the competition itself, but rather the timing and location. For several months, Manipur has been witnessing significant unrest. While life goes on, the atmosphere remains unpredictable. When the news hit that school-age children from Rajasthan had arrived there for a sports tournament, parents naturally started panic-calling officials.Ashok Gehlot took to social media to express what many families are feeling. He didn't just ask for better security; he pointedly asked the Central Government how they could allow a school tournament in such a volatile environment without an ironclad safety plan.A Call for Extreme Measures?In his critique, Gehlot didn’t hold back. He suggested that if the state government in Manipur cannot ensure the safety of visiting children and its own citizens, then perhaps it is time to discuss more serious interventions, like President’s Rule.Politics aside, his core argument resonates with every parent: Is a medal worth more than a child’s safety? He urged the Rajasthan government to coordinate directly with the Manipur authorities and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure every single student is protected and brought home safely once the event concludes.The Anxiety Back HomeBack in cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur, families are glued to their phones, waiting for updates. Many parents are worried about travel—getting to and from the venues in a state where roadblocks and sudden curfews have become common. For these kids, who should be focused on their performance on the field, the stress of the surrounding environment is a massive burden to carry.What’s Being Done?While the government assures that measures are in place, the "on-ground" reality in conflict-sensitive areas can change in minutes. The demand from the opposition in Rajasthan is clear—they want a dedicated nodal officer to monitor these students 24/7 until they cross back into safer territory.This incident has sparked a broader debate about how we schedule national events. Should student safety be secondary to a sports calendar? As of now, everyone is hoping that the tournament ends without incident and the children return with memories of sportsmanship, rather than the sound of sirens.For now, the eyes of Rajasthan are on Manipur not just for the scores, but for the well-being of its youngest ambassadors.
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