Olympian Shahid’s widow threatens to return awards
VARANASI: The late hockey Olympian Mohammad Shahid’s wife Parveen on Tuesday said she would return his Padma Shri, Arjuna and other awards to the government, if it did not fulfil the promises made after his death. She accused the Centre of not keeping its word.
Shahid, who belonged to Varanasi, was a member the Indian hockey team that won the gold medal in the Moscow Olympics. He died on July 20, 2016 after a prolonged illness.
Parveen said several people, including ministers, visited her place after her husband’s death.
Ram Sakal Gurjar, sports minister in the previous SP government, promised a national tournament would be organised in Shahid’s name every year, she said. Likewise, the then union minister of state for sports Vijay Goel assured that his ministry would extend full support to a hockey tournament here. Two years had elapsed but the Central government had not taken any initiative, she alleged. “My financial condition is not so strong that I can afford to sponsor or organise a tournament at the local, district or state level. If the government doesn’t fulfill the promises made after his death, I will return Shahid’s awards, including Padma Shri and Arjun Award,” she said.
She said the government had also promised that a petrol pump or gas agency would be allotted.
“But promises are still promises (have not been kept). I run the family on pension. If this is the situation within two years of his death, who will remember Mohammad Shahid in future?” she asked. She said she would visit New Delhi after July 20, try to call on PM Narendra Modi and return the awards. She also expressed anger over not being given time to meet the PM during his recent visit to Varanasi. Shahid was employed as a sports officer in the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW). He received Arjuna Award in 1980-81 and Padma Shri in 1986. RESULTS - Div III: Phoenix FC1 (Vincent D’souza 48) bt Milan FA 0; Vignesh Naiker FC 1 (Shanu Bhaiya 12) drew with Regal SA 1 (Abhijeet Atyalkar 46).
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