CHANDIGARH: Haryana state government has canceled the felicitation function for the state's Commonwealth Games medal winners after top athletes threatened to boycott the programme over a proposed cut in prize money. National level athletes like wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Javelin-thrower Neeraj Chopra, and boxer Manoj Kumar, all refused to attend the function that was scheduled to be held in Panchkula. The athletes are miffed with the cut proposed for those employed with sectors like Services and others.
Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij said, “We have decided to cancel tomorrow's programme. We will be holding a meeting soon wherein we will review the existing policy. Under our sports policy, it is quite clear that we have to give award money to those who have played from the state. There is no provision in the present policy to give award to those who have represented other bodies like the Railways or the Army.” He added, “We gave relaxation to our policy and considered even those players who play for bodies like the Railways, lest they feel that they got any less than what their counterparts who represent the state get. Everyone is aware that Haryana gives highest award money. What we had said is that we will deduct the prize money that they get from their employer, in case of any, from the total reward money.”
Vij also explained, “If we don't go for deduction of this amount, then those who played from Haryana, their reward money will be reduced whereas those who played from other bodies, they will take Rs 1 Crore, let's say from Railways as well as get Rs 1.5 Crore from the Haryana government. We will be holding a meeting. We will review the existing policy.” Preparations for organising the mega awards function at Panchkula had almost been completed, and Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki was to honour the medal winners in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Vij.
A total of 22 CWG medallists from Haryana were selected, out of which, 13 represent different public organisations like the Indian Railways and Army. Controversy broke out after a few of the medal winners threatened a boycott if the government failed to withdraw its decision of making the deduction from their prize money.
