Rahul flags pending dues to Neeraj and Bajrang, says 'enough of phone, video calls'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a jibe at the rash of cash awards and prizes announced by various state governments for Olympic medal winners.

Taking to Instagram, Rahul wrote "In addition to felicitating athletes, they should be given what is rightfully theirs and the sports budget should not be cut. There have been enough phone and video calls, now pay their reward."

Rahul appeared to be referring to the footage of numerous political leaders talking to the Olympic winners on phone or on video call. These included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

Rahul's reference to paying what was “rightfully the athletes” was in reference to screenshots of tweets by wrestling bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and javelin gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, who had complained in the past they had not got payments for past prizes. Various state governments and other institutions have announced over Rs 13 crore in cash awards for Neeraj Chopra after his gold medal win.

The tweets posted by Rahul were demands by Punia and Chopra that the Haryana government release their prize money.

Rahul also attached a screenshot of a report in The Times of India in July that claimed Olympic athletes from Haryana had not yet received dues for performances four years ago.