‘Force’ Used Against Farmers: Former Sportspersons To Return Awards

Chandigarh: Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee wrestler Kartar Singh, Arjuna awardee basketball player Sajjan Singh Cheema and Arjuna awardee hockey player Rajbir Kaur are among the several former sportspersons who have said they will return their awards in protest against the ‘force’ used against the farmers when they were on their way to Delhi.

Slamming the Centre and Haryana government for using water cannons and teargas against the protesting farmers to stop them from going to Delhi, they said they will proceed to Delhi on December 5 and will place their awards outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan, The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported.

“We are the children of farmers and they have been holding peaceful agitation for the last several months. Not even a single incident of violence took place. But water cannons and teargas shells were used against them when they were going to Delhi. If turbans of our elders and brothers are tossed, then what will we do with our awards and honour? We are in support of our farmers. We do not want such awards and that is why we are returning the same,” Cheema was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Singh told TNIE that several former players will go to Delhi on December 5 and will return their awards. “If farmers do not want such laws, then why the central government was imposing on them,” asked Singh, who has retired as Inspector General in the Punjab Police. He further said that former players would also join farmers’ stir at the Delhi borders on December 5. Singh said they are also trying to contact former players in Haryana for coming out in support of farmers’ agitation.

Cheema said several former players including Kaur and Arjuna awardee (shotput) Balwinder Singh have backed them, the report added.

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