Now the players of Manipur threatened, said – if this does not happen, they will return the medal
Manipur’s international and national award-winning sportspersons on Tuesday said they will return the awards given by the government if the state’s territorial integrity is compromised. Eleven of these players will submit a memorandum on the issue to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the state. L Anita Chanu (Dhyan Chand Award winner), Arjuna Award winner N Kunjarani Devi (Padma Shri), L Sarita Devi and W Sandhyarani Devi (Padma Shri Award winner) and S Mirabai Chanu (Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winner) among those 11. players are included.
Know what the players said
Anita Chanu told a press conference here, “If Amit Shah does not assure us to protect the integrity of Manipur, we will return the awards given by the Government of India.” He said that if the demand is not met then in future the players will not represent India nor will they train any budding talent.
Had gone to hand over the memorandum to Shah
These 11 players had gone to submit a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Shah but could not do so as the Union Home Minister had gone to Churachandpur to meet the Kuki victims and organisations. Chanu said, “We have submitted a copy of the memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He has assured to arrange a meeting with Shah in the evening after returning from Churachandpur. We will then hand over the memorandum to them.
On the other hand, on the performance of Delhi wrestlers, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday that it is shameful for the country that the wrestlers have decided to throw their medals in the river Ganges because they are fed up with the attitude of the central government. He said that the wrestlers had to take this decision due to the obstinate attitude of the central government on the demand of action against the President of Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Wrestlers have accused Singh of sexually abusing several female players. The country’s top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, reached ‘Har Ki Pauri’ in Uttarakhand with hundreds of supporters on Tuesday shedding their medals in the river Ganges.
