Deaf Wrestler Virendra Singh: Am I from Pakistan?
The Haryana government has responded to the demands of Padma Shri awardee and Deaf wrestler Virender Singh.
In November 2021, Padma Shri awardee and speech and Deaf wrestler Virender Singh had sat outside the Haryana Bhavan in Delhi demanding Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to recognise Deaf athletes as para-athletes and give them equal rights like able-bodied athletes. He even urged the Haryana government to form a committee to discuss and implement this. He had posted many Tweets about this and had even tagged PM Modi and asked for help. Virendra’s brother Rambir Singh had said that in 2017, the Haryana Government had announced a Rs 6 crore incentive for Virendra but till now the government has not given him anything. Now Virendra posted another Tweet on 16th January saying :
"Honorable Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar Ji, am I from Pakistan? When will the committee be formed, when will I get equal rights? Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, when I had met you, you told me that injustice won't happen. Now you see what's happening," IPS officer Pankaj Nain, Director Sports and Youth Affairs of Haryana responded to Virendra’s Tweet saying:
1)Virender has already been given a 1.20 cr of cash award by the Haryana govt, which is the highest in the country.
2) He is already working in the sports department of Haryana. He was offered a group B post on par with Paralympians, which he refused to take.
3) The committee to look into his grievances have already been formed. The committee members are past Olympians and Paralympians medalists. They will soon submit a report. Virender is our star player and we are proud of him. Haryana has one of the best sports policies in the country. Any changes if required will be taken by discussing with everyone.
