New Delhi : Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has vowed to move court after being ignored for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

Asian Games champion Bajrang was considered as a strong contender for India's highest sporting honour following his recent achievements. He won gold medals in Gold Coast and Jakarta this year. The Haryana grappler has also won a World Championship bronze medal in 2013 besides winning silver medals in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The selection committee, which met on Monday, recommended cricketer Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for the prestigious award.

Speaking to Mail Today, the 24-year-old wrestler said he was 'hurt'. "I don't know what is in their (selection committee's) mind. My achievements are there what else do you want? I am coming to Delhi tomorrow and will file a case in the court against it. I am really disappointed," Bajrang said on Tuesday.

"I tried Rathore sir's (Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh) number several times but of no use. He didn't even reply. I will now meet him personally and enquire about the matter," he added. "The World Championship is scheduled to begin next month and such ignorance of the ministry is really disappointing," said Bajrang, who is currently training in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist and Bajrang's guru, Yogeshwar Dutt, raised questions over 'selection criteria'. "Bajrang has been consistently performing well in international tournaments. I am unable to understand why his name not being nominated for Khel Ratna. I am not against anybody. I am happy for the athletes who are getting awards but on what basis Bajrang has been ignored? The committee must make the criteria for selection transparent," he said.

It is also learnt that Indian wrestling coach Sujeet Maan has also expressed his disappointment over Dronacharya award snub. According to sources, Maan is likely to meet the sports minister soon.

courtesy : indiatoday.in

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet has decided to meet again to discuss the issue of providing internal reservation among Scheduled Castes for direct recruitment in the government sector, as deliberations on the matter remained incomplete.

While no specific date for the next meeting has been announced, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil told reporters it would be held "at the earliest" and reiterated the government's commitment to the issue.

The issue came up for discussion at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, amid reports of rifts between SC(Right) and SC (Left) factions within the ruling Congress over providing internal reservation in the recruitment to 56,432 vacant posts.

"The government is committed to providing internal reservation. We will meet again for further discussion. The chief minister will decide when to meet at the earliest. It will be a Cabinet meeting and will be held as early as possible," Patil said.

He said, "We had a detailed discussion on this matter for some time, but it was incomplete because many ministers are yet to speak on this. The order already issued (for filling up vacancies) will not be disturbed, and about other things, we will discuss in the next meeting."

The state government decided to conduct recruitment for 56,432 vacant jobs based on the reservation order in force before December 28, 2022, (15 per cent for SCs and 3 per cent for STs), due to the stay on the enhanced quota and internal reservation, while continuing to pursue its case in court.

The previous BJP government had increased the reservation quota for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, raising the state's total reservation to 56 per cent, exceeding the Supreme Court-mandated 50 per cent ceiling.

While this matter is still in court, the Congress government decided to provide internal reservation by slicing up the 17 per cent reservation matrix given to 101 scheduled castes, under three groups, with a formula of six, six, and five per cent respectively.

According to sources, the SC(Left)/Madiga community, which has fought for internal reservation for decades, opposes recruitment for 56,432 jobs without providing internal reservation.

The SC (Right)/Holeya community, however, favoured recruitment without providing internal reservation.

At the meeting, the Cabinet gave administrative approval for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to purchase 144 'BS-VI' urban transport diesel buses at an estimated cost of Rs 62 crores.

It also granted administrative approval for the purchase of hardware and software for implementing ICJS (Inter-operable Criminal Justice System) and IT services in the state under the Police Modernisation Project at an estimated cost of Rs 227.58 crores.

The Cabinet also asked the health minister to speak with officers, doctors and other staffers appointed on a permanent, contract, temporary, or outsourced basis in the health department, who have threatened to go on strike over their various demands.

Approval was also given for amendments to certain sections of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964, and the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, regarding advertisement charges under local bodies.