Denial of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to the former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has virtually triggered off a blame game in Punjab. The off-spinner has blamed the Punjab Government for “administrative delay” in submitting his nomination papers for the country’s highest sporting honour.
The State Government, in turn, has decided to fix the culpability, if required, after thoroughly examining the matter. Punjab’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi has directed the state’s Sports director to inquire the matter. However, no official order or communication has been issued by the Department.
“I have asked the Sports Director to look into the matter and find out the reason for the delay, if any, on the part of the state government,” Sodhi told The Pioneer.
The directions came hours after Harbhajan, popularly known as turbanator, posted a video on his official Twitter handle, blaming the administrative delay on the part of state's sports department as the reason for the rejection of his nomination for the prestigious sports award.
Notably, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has rejected Harbhajan’s nomination on the grounds that his documents reached late. On the other hand, the former cricketer had claimed that he had submitted his form for the nomination for the Award to Punjab Sports Department “on time”.
“I have come to know through media that a file recommending my name for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award sent by Punjab Government to the Centre has been rejected with the reason being that papers reached very late,” Harbhajan said in the video.
“I have come to know that because of delay, my nomination will not be considered for this award this time and because of which I will not get this award,” he rued.
Harbhajan claimed that he furnished the relevant documents on March 20 but now he understands that there was a delay in sending his papers to the Centre that ultimately led to his rejection.
“As far as I (can) recollect, I submitted papers on March 20 with your (Sodhi) office and this form was supposed to reach Delhi within 10-15 days and why it was not submitted timely. Had this form submitted timely, I probably would have got the award this year which comes as a motivation and encouragement for any sportsperson,” he said.
The third-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, Harbhajan, in his video post, requested Punjab Sports Minister to personally intervene in the matter. He, in fact, requested the Minister to re-send his application for the Award for the next year.
“If such delays continue to take place then players will lag behind which is not right and I hope you (Sodhi) will take action on it and forward my nomination again to the government of India,” he said.
Taking note of the same, the Minister later ordered a probe into the alleged delay in sending his documents to the Central Ministry.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is awarded annually by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports after the Award Selection Committee selects the sportspersons for their “spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years” at the international level.
The nominations for a given year are accepted till April 30, or the last working day of April.