Boxer Vijender Singh says will return Khel Ratna if farmers’ demands not accepted
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The 35-year-old from Haryana’s Bhiwani made an look on the protest web site of the farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border
India’s first Olympic medallist in boxing and Congress chief Vijender Singh on Sunday threatened to return his Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award if the demands of farmers protesting in opposition to new agriculture legal guidelines are not accepted by the central authorities.
The 35-year-old from Haryana’s Bhiwani made an look on the protest web site of the farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border.
“Enough is enough, if the government does not listen to the demands of the farmers, then I have decided that as a show of solidarity, I will return my Khel Ratna,” Vijender advised PTI.
“I come from a family of farmers and army men, I can understand their pain and anxiety. It is high time that government pays heed to their demands,” he added.
Also learn | Parkash Singh Badal returns Padam Vibhushan in protest in opposition to ‘betrayal of farmers’
Vijender had received India’s first Olympic medal in boxing, a bronze, within the 2008 Beijing Games.
In 2009, he additionally turned the primary Indian boxer to clinch a world championships medal (a bronze). The similar 12 months, he was bestowed the nation’s highest sporting honour for his trailblazing achievements.
He presently plies his commerce within the skilled circuit and had even contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“The award definitely means a lot to me but we also have to take a stand for things we believe in,” he stated.
“If the crisis is resolved with talks, then we would all be happy,” he added.
Earlier, former nationwide boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu, who was in-charge through the Beijing Olympics, had additionally talked about returning his Dronacharya award if the demands of the farmers had been not addressed.
Vijender and Sandhu joined a number of former sportspersons in extending their help to the agitating farmers.
Among them are Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee wrestler Kartar Singh, Arjuna awardee basketball participant Sajjan Singh Cheema and Arjuna awardee hockey participant Rajbir Kaur.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have stayed put at numerous Delhi border factors for the previous few days, protesting in opposition to the brand new farm legal guidelines, which they concern will dismantle the minimal help worth system, leaving them on the “mercy” of huge corporates.
The authorities is holding talks with farmers, who’ve referred to as for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8 and threatened to occupy toll plazas.
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