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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's claim that Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, a resident of neighbouring Haryana, had Punjabi roots is widely interpreted as one made clearly with a political motive.
Punjab is going to polls in February- March next year and Captain Amarinder is facing a strong anti-incumbency against his government coupled with a huge infighting within the ruling Congress that resulted in the appointment of his bete noire Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's state unit chief.
This was clearly done with an eye on the upcoming assembly elections as Amarinder wanted to invoke the spirit of "Punjabiyat" among the electorate of his state.
But Captain Amarinder had apparently jumped the gun while claiming that the Olympic champion had "Punjabi" roots soon after Neeraj won the gold.
“It is a proud moment for India and all Punjabis as Chopra, a serving soldier in the army, has his family roots in Punjab,” he had said.
But that is not the case. Neeraj is a Ror from Haryana and not a Punjabi.
So, Captain Amarinder had to amend his tweet and justify his announcement of the cash reward of Rs 2.5 crore (25 million) by talking about his association with the army.
"Neeraj Chopra, who is serving in the Indian Army has brought glory to the nation and scripted his name in history by winning India's first Olympic Gold in athletics. It's our honour to announce a special cash reward of Rs. 2 Cr for him. A proud moment for all Indians and our Armed Forces," his tweet read.
But this is not the first time that such an announcement has come before the elections.
In July 2014 a few months before the assembly elections in Haryana, the then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had enhanced the cash prize of gold medallist in different international events, a move that didn't help him reap any electoral dividend.
But linking achievements in sports to electoral politics could prove counterproductive in the long run and it is imperative for all the political parties to keep sports away from politics to ensure Indian sportspersons compete with other world class players.