Indian shooter Manu Bhaker and Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij have engaged in a fierce Twitter battle over a promise of Rs 2 crore cash prize.
Anil Vij had promised the cash prize to the teenage shooting sensation for winning a gold medal in the 10 metre Air pistol event at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games held at Buenos Aires. The minister also said that previously only Rs 10 was given out as cash prize.
On Friday, January 4 Manu Bhaker stirred the pot by posting a screenshot of the minister's tweets from October 2018 and asked if the promise was indeed true.
Sir Please confirm if it is correct... Or just Jumla... @anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/AtxpLKBSYV
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
Responding to the instigator tweet, Anil Vij said, on January 5, that it was "disgusting" of Bhaker to denounce a state government that is giving out the "highest awards in the Country." He further added that the shooter should have spoken to the sports department before speaking out on a public domain.
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 tweated by me and as per notification at that time.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
He further stated that players should have discipline and Bhaker should feel sorry for creating this controversy.
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
Bhaker is a 16-year-old shooter hailing from Goria village in the Jhajjar district of Haryana. Born in February 2002 she has already taken the shooting world by storm and is touted as the next superstar. She won two gold medals in the 2018 ISSF World Cup – 10 metre Air pistol and 10 metre Air pistol mixed team. She also won a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 10 metre Air pistol event.
Before her "Jumla" tweet on January 4, she also tweeted saying, "Some one in Haryana is really playing with Youth Olympic games cash prize!!!!!"
Some one in Haryana is really playing with Youth Olympic games cash prize!!!!! @narendramodi @mlkhattar @anilvijminister @Ra_THORe @AshokKhemka_IAS ... Is it really for encouraging or disheartening players ...... Please ....Let me play ... https://t.co/lRauQLohL3
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
Some one in Haryana is really playing with Youth Olympic games cash prize!!!!! @narendramodi @mlkhattar @anilvijminister @Ra_THORe @AshokKhemka_IAS ... Is it really for encouraging or disheartening players. which one is correct... pic.twitter.com/adIsfttId7
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
She also quoted a tweet from June 2018 by Yogeshwar Dutt saying that now she understands what he meant.
I was too young to understand this at that time .. But Today i understand what he wants to prove.... Some people want to prove thamself right even they know they are not... Bad luck ofHaryana . https://t.co/4EsUbDul4B
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
Rough translated, this tweet by Dutt says that the sports department of Haryana has made no contribution in the development of sports in the state and will be responsible for the downfall of sports by draining out all the players.
