After shooter Manu Bhaker won a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Argentina, Haryana government had announced a cash prize of Rs two crore. However, less than three months later Bhaker took a dig at Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij on January 4, 2019, and asked if the announcement was merely a jumla.
In a tweet, Bhaker posted screenshots of the minister’s earlier tweets and wrote: “Sir, please confirm if it is correct… Or just Jumla…”
Sir Please confirm if it is correct… Or just Jumla… @anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/AtxpLKBSYV
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
On December 27, 2018, Haryana Principal Secretary Ashok Khemka issued a notification regarding “Cash awards to sportspersons in individual events” which mentioned a Rs one crore award money.
Reacting to Bhaker’s remark on social media, Minister Vij asserted that “Bhaker should feel sorry for creating this controversy”. He also said, “There should be some sense of discipline in players.”
Manu Bhaker should have first confirmed it from the Sports Deptt. before going to public domain. It is disgusting to denounce a State Govt which is giving highest awards in the Country. Bhaker will will will get 2 crores as tweeted by me and as per notification at that time.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
There should be some sense of decipline in players. Bhaker should feel sorry for creating this controversy. She has a long way to go. She should focus on her game only.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
We have increased Prize money from 10 lakh which was being given in previous Congress Govt. to 2 crores for this event. We have delivered prize money won by Haryana Players upto August on 15 August last year and remaining will be delivered possibly in January this year
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
Commonwealth gold medalist and wrestler Babita Phogat criticised Vij for calling Bhaker indisciplined. She told News 18 that Vij should resign as a minister.
#NewsAlert | It feels really sad to see the reaction of the sports minister of Haryana. Since @anilvijminister had promised he should fulfill his promise: @BabitaPhogat tells @Chaiti | #MantriVsCWGHero pic.twitter.com/EG0aPofrVC
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 5, 2019