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Rejects Rs 25-lakh prize money Dehra Dun, April 18 Annoyed over his refusal to accept Rs 25 lakh as prize money announced by the state government for winning three gold and a silver medal in Doha Asian Games, the state sports minister Rajinder Singh Bhandari reportedly said in the local media that he was personally hurt over the golden boy's reaction. Rana refused the money on the grounds that the 'paltry' amount was an insult to his achievements. In comparison, the government in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh had given Rs.25 lakh for each gold medal winner of the state. As such he deserved Rs 75 lakh by that standard. Reacting to this Bhandari said, "His refusal has hurt us. We are not financially sound and the money was mobilised from various accounts."What has really rubbed in the BJP is that Rana is a member of the party and his father Narian Singh Rana was a former Sports minister in the interim BJP government when the state was created. His sister is daughter-in-law of BJP national president Rajnath Singh. "His reaction is uncomfortable for the party as Rana family's association with it is publicly well known," said BJP sources. But for Rana family politics and sports do not go hand in hand. Though Rana could not be contacted, his father maintained the issue was being distorted to tarnish the image of his son in absence of any government intimation in this regard. But he made his displeasure known by saying that even a shawl as a token of felicitation to his son would be acceptable if the state government was short of funds. He added that there should be a uniform policy throughout the country regarding prize money to sportspersons.
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