Rupnagar, July 30 -- A controversy has erupted in Punjab after the government college sports ground in Rupnagar was allegedly damaged during preparations for a religious programme organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday. The incident has sparked criticism from sportspersons, opposition leaders, alumni and local residents, who have accused the administration of sacrificing vital sports infrastructure for a one-day event.

The controversy centres on the government college ground, one of the district's key sports facilities, where a 400-metre athletics track was reportedly dug up at several places, football goalposts were uprooted and sections of the playing field were levelled using heavy machinery to accommodate the event stage...