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IOA issues statement asking sportspersons not to return awards in support of farmers' protest

IOA issues statement asking sportspersons not to return awards in support of farmers protest
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By

The Bridge Desk

Published: 7 Dec 2020 1:32 PM GMT

On the wake of athletes from the state of Punjab threatening to return their National Awards to showcase their solidarity with the farmers of the country who are out on the streets protesting, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday issued a strong statement asking the sportspersons not to do the same.

In their statement, the IOA said that the farmers protests happening in the country and the national awards are two separate things. The IOA asked the athletes to have trust in the government and the farmers who are in a dialogue.

"National awards and farmers issue are two separate things. While every Indian including us loves and supports the farmers and we all would always like our farming community to be happy as they are the “ANNDATA's” of our country, the government and the farmer leaders are in talks and we all are hoping for an early resolution & solution. Till such time let us have trust in our government and the farmers leaders who are in dialogue," the IOA said in their official statement.

This statement from IOA comes after the sportspersons weren’t allowed to March to Rashtrapati Bhawan and were stopped outside press club of India. They are expected to try again if the deadlock between farmers and government continues.

Around 60 athletes from the state of Punjab including boxer Vijender Singh and former national coach Gurubaksh Singh Sandhu have threatened to return their national awards such as the Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Dronacharya Award if the issues pertaining to the farmers are not resolved at the earliest.

The farmers of the country are protesting since the past two months against The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 which was passed by the BJP led central government through a voice vote.

Also read: "Tired of speaking, want a solution" Vinesh Phogat expresses solidarity with famrers' protest

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