Sonowal wants sports ministry to be 'important, visible'

Sarbanand Sonowal, the new sports minister who took charge on Tuesday, wants to make his ministry “important and visible” and will seek advice from experts and sports personalities of the country to discharge his duties.

Welcomed by the ministry officials at his Shastri Bhawan office, Sonowal was cautious taking questions from the media.

“Today is the first day. I need your (media) support and support of the countrymen to make this ministry important and visible,” Sonowal, the Lok Sabha MP from Lakhimpur constituency in Assam, told reporters after taking charge.

“I want the sports personalities to grow from our countryside,” he added.
Quizzed about his priorities, the 51-year-old leader said, “Some other day I will talk in detail about my future plan and action.

“I will discuss (matters) with sports experts and sports personalities of the country to carry out my functions and responsibilities effectively.”

Immediately after his brief interaction with the media, Sonowal sat with Sports Secretary Ajit M Sharan and other officials to discuss the roadmap ahead.