Arjuna awardees Kartar Singh, Sajjan Cheema and others to return awards in support of protesting farmers

Kartar Singh and Sajjan Singh Cheema

Several former sportspersons, including Padma Shri and Arjuna awardees, decided to extend their support to the agitating farmers. A few of them are even set to return their awards in protest against the “force” used against the peasants protesting in Delhi.

Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee wrestler Kartar Singh, Arjuna awardee basketball player Sajjan Singh Cheema and Arjuna awardee hockey player Rajbir Kaur are amongst the top athletes in this list.

“We are the children of farmers, and they have been holding peaceful agitation for the last several months. Not even a single incident of violence took place. But water cannons and teargas shells were used against them when they were going to Delhi. If turbans of our elders and brothers are tossed, then what will we do with our awards and honour? We are in support of our farmers. We do not want such awards, and that is why we are returning the same,” said Sajjan Cheema on Tuesday.

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Kartar Singh, who has retired as Inspector General in the Punjab Police, said that several former players would go to Delhi on December 5 to return their awards.

“If farmers do not want such laws, then why the central government was imposing on them,” asked Kartar Singh.

Former Hockey team captain Pargat Singh joins the list

Former captain of the Indian hockey team and two-time Olympian Pargat Singh also joined the list of athletes supporting the farmers. Singh has decided to return the Padma Shri award he received in 1998. The former hockey player is currently a Congress Party member.

He will join the former athletes in returning their prestigious awards to the Centre, as a mark of protest in solidarity with the farmers’ protest.

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