I'll again raise Anish's issue in Parliament: TMC MP

City lad four-year-old Anish Sarkar after becoming world's youngest-rated player by earning his first FIDE rating is a pride for the state and also the nation.

- ASHOK CHATTERJEE

The Kaikhali resident was recently discussed in Parliament for his skill set when Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee asked the central government what steps the sports ministry was taking to support and encourage the Kolkata boy.

The Trinamool Congress MP, Ritabrata Banerjee feels very passionately about Anish's success. "Such occurrences are not usual. It would be very disappointing if the nation does not invest in a talent like him. The nation has to take responsibility for the development of national talents. If Bobby Fisher and Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov did well, their respective nations invested in them. I'm not at all satisfied with the Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya's reply to my question. I will again raise the issue in Parliament."

Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya had replied on the issue in Parliament: "For promotion and development of chess at national level the government has recognized All India Chess Federation (AICF) as the NSF. The government supplements the efforts of recognized NSFs, including the AICF, by providing financial assistance towards training of athletes, which includes all requisite facilities for their preparations."