IOA urges sportspersons to refrain from returning awards as Centre-farmers talks continue

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has w stepped into row over sportspersons including Pma Shri and Arjuna Awardees returning ir awards to express solidarity with protesting farmers. In a statement released on Monday, Olympic body has urged athletes to t mix national awards and farmers issue as y are '2 separate things'. Highlighting that government is currently holding discussions with farmers' unions, IOA urged sportspersons to refrain from returning hours. 

" Government and farmer leers are in talks and we all are hoping for an early resolution and solution. Till such time let us have trust in our government and farmer's leers who are in dialogue," IOA President Narinder Batra said in a statement. 

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Several sportspersons including former captain of Indian hockey team and two-time Olympian Pargat Singh have decided to return national awards presented by Centre. Apart from Singh, Arjuna awardees Sajjan Singh Cheema and Rajbir Kaur, Pma Shree awardee Kartar Singh, Olympic medallist Gurmail Singh and former cricket coach Rajinder Singh marched to national capital on Saturday to return ir awards to ir President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Moreover, Olympian Vijender Singh has also threatened to return Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, - India's highest sporting hour - as he joined farmers' protest on Sunday. 

Bharat Bandh on Tuesday

dressing media ahe of Bharat Bandh call on Tuesday, farmers' representatives have reiterated that it will be a 'peaceful' bandh. Protesting against agriculture laws introduced by Centre amid discussions with Centre, farmers' unions have asserting that re will be a 'Chakka Jam' till 3 pm on Tuesday. Bandh call issued by farmers has also been supported by several Opposition parties as y demanded withdrawal of three contentious agrarian laws. 

impasse between Centre and farmers' unions continues as fifth round of talks on Saturday ended inconclusively. next round of deliberations has been scheduled for December 9. dressing media on Saturday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar asserted that Minimum Support Price system will continue, he expressed that Centre's willingness to dress concerns regarding this. Moreover, Tomar stated that Union government will deliberate on all demands of farmers. He highlighted initiatives of Modi government for ensuring welfare of farmers and reiterated that it h intention of abolishing Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees. 

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