Ashok Kumar unfazed with RS members demand of Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand
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Rajya Sabha members demanded that hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand be conferred with Bharat Ratna. Image Source: oneindia.com[/caption]
Internet Desk: Ashok Kumar, the son of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand is unfazed with the demands of Rajya Sabha members to confer Bharat Ratna on the hockey legend.
According to Ashok Kumar, “I am not excited at all. He should have got this due recognition many years ago. But unfortunately that did not happen. I have expressed my resentment earlier as well.”
Sachin Tendulkar is the only recipient of this coveted award from the field of sports. The Indian batting maestro was preferred over the hockey legend few years back which sparked off a controversy. Without naming anyone, Ashok Kumar said, “I am not against anyone getting the award. But the selection procedure leaves a lot of questions.”
Rajya Sabha members across party lines today demanded that hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand be conferred with Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour.
During Zero Hour, Chandrapal Singh Yadav (SP) raised the issue of the ace hockey player being denied the highest civilian honour despite several countries and personalities, including Adolf Hitler, praising him for his expertise with the stick.
Dhyan Chand had won three Olympic gold medals in hockey for India between 1928 and 1936.
"Major Dhyan Chand received awards and accolades across the world including from Adolf Hitler and the British government. But in our country, he has still not been appreciated as he should have been for making India a world power in hockey," Yadav said.
He said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, had called for conferring Bharat Ratna on Dhyan Chand.
Yadav's concerns were supported by members across party lines and even by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien.
"It has the full support of the House," Kurien said.
In March this year, Dilip Tirkey (BJD), former Indian hockey player, had raised the issue of discrimination against Indian sports like kabaddi and hockey and reminded that Dhyan Chand has not been given the Bharat Ratna.
