Manu Bhaker Still Awaits Cash Reward From Haryana Govt

A war of words broke out between India’s teenage shooting prodigy Manu Bhaker and Haryana sports minister Anil Vij after the shooter on Friday took to Twitter to post about the government's unkept promise of a cash reward. The pistol shooter, who hails from Goria village in Jhajjar, reminded Vij of the Rs 2 crore cash award promised to her after she won the Youth Olympic gold medal. Following this, the minister hit back at her, criticising her for going public with the grouse. He argued that she should have come to the sports department before going public.

Bhaker had attached screenshots of Vij's tweet in which he had promised her Rs 2 crore on behalf of the state government. "Sir Please confirm if it is correct... Or just Jumla (sic)," Bhaker wrote on Twitter.

Sir Please confirm if it is correct... Or just Jumla... @anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/AtxpLKBSYV

— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019

She further added,

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

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

Vij then tweeted:

“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 (sic),” he posted.

READ: Why Manu Bhaker Banned Her Parents From Asian Games

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

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

He assured her that the money promised by him will be duly paid to her.

The 16-year-old is one of India’s top sensational young stars last year following her phenomenal performance in shooting ranges across the world. She won multiple gold in her maiden senior World Cup, Commonwealth Games, besides clinching the top prize at the Youth Olympics last October.

When Bhaker had become the first Indian shooter to win gold at Youth Olympics, Vij had tweeted, “Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning shooting gold in Youth Olympics. Haryana government will give a cash prize of Rs 2 crore to Manu Bhaker for winning this gold. Previous governments used to pay Rs 10 lakh only.”

As per the state government's changed policy, Rs 2 crore was marked for gold medallists, Rs 1.25 crore for silver medallists and Rs 80 lakh for the bronze winners. Before the policy came into effect, the YOG medallists used to get Rs 10 lakh (gold), Rs 7.5 lakh (silver) and Rs 5 lakh (bronze).

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