Divya Kakran, CWG bronze medalist, once again accuses the Delhi government, AAP and Arvind Kejriwal of lacking financial support
On Thursday, CWG bronze medallist Divya Kakran at a news conference revealed that she had won around 58 medals for Delhi since 2017. She even said she would play for Uttar Pradesh in 2018 as the Delhi government has not provided any financial support.
Divya Kakran Reveals How CM Yogi And BJP UP Government Helped Her After Getting No Help From AAP And Arvind Kejriwal In Delhi
Delhi | I come from extreme poverty, had no money to travel, would sit next to train toilets, in general bogie to travel for competitions. Delhi govt never helped us. I started fighting from UP in 2018: Indian freestyle wrestler Divya Kakran who won a Bronze medal in CWG22 (2/3) pic.twitter.com/lKYC1RVzpp
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2022
Divya Karkran earned a bronze medal at the women’s freestyle wrestling event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She tells her story, how she needed money to survive and there were even times when she had to travel for the competitions with empty pockets.
मेडल की बधाई देने पर दिल्ली के माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी को तहे दिल से धन्यवाद मेराआपसे एक निवेदन है की मै पिछले 20 साल से दिल्ली मे रह रही हू ओर यही अपने खेल कुश्ती का अभ्यास कर रही हू परंतुअब तक मुझे राज्य सरकारसे किसी तरह की कोई इनाम राशि नही दी गई न कोई मदद दी गई @ArvindKejriwal
— Divya kakran (@DivyaWrestler) August 7, 2022
“I would sit next to train toilets and travel in general bogie for competitions. Delhi’s government never helped us. I started wrestling from Uttar Pradesh in 2018”, she said in an interview.
The matter escalated into controversy when Divya Kakran revealed that she had not received any financial support from the Delhi government for her accomplishments. In response to the criticism, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that she never represented Delhi but in reply Divya Kakran shared the certificates to prove her representation for Delhi between 2011-17.
Kakran wrote in a Tweet: ‘‘I represented Delhi from 2011 to 2017. This is my certificate from Delhi State. If you still do not believe me, I can upload 17 Gold medal-related certificates as well.” It is noteworthy that she has won over 60 medals including 17 Gold medals in Delhi State Championship.
Delhi | In 2019 UP govt gave me the Rani Laxmi Bai award. In 2020 they gave me a life-long pension. Yesterday, they announced Rs 50 lakh & a gazetted officer rank post. UP govt helped me, even the Haryana govt did. But Delhi never came to help: Divya Kakran (3/3) pic.twitter.com/tx8fagjXfB
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2022
She also expressed her gratitude toward the UP government and thanked the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government for recognizing her achievements and awarding her with the Rani Lakshmibai Award.In 2019 UP govt gave me the Rani Laxmi Bai award. ‘‘In 2020 they gave me a life-long pension. Yesterday, they announced Rs 50lakh. But Delhi was never there to help,’ she repeated.
It's an insult to athletes, the youth & the Tricolour. Whether it's a stadium or a battlefield, people fight for the glory of the Tiranga. Asking (wrestler) Divya Kakran where she is from… & CM Kejriwal did not even deign to disavow Saurabh Bharadwaj: Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP pic.twitter.com/bZcjNtjWrr
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2022
After the controversy, BJP spokesman Shehzad Poonawala criticized the Delhi government for insulting the athlete and even demanded that the leader be expelled.
This is an insult to the athletes, the youth and the tricolour. Whether it’s a stadium or a battlefield, people fight for the glory of Tiranga. Asking (wrestler) Divya Kakran where she comes from is a disservice to the athlete. CM Kejriwal didn’t even dare deny Saurabh Bharadwaj,” he said at a press conference on 11 August.
Divya Kakran Achievements-
• Bronze Medal – Asian Games 2018
• Gold Medal – Asian Games 2020
• Bronze Medal – Commonwealth Games 2022
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