Tribal associations allege AP government discriminated CWG medal winner Venkat Rahul Ragala

Tribal and Dalit associations in Andhra Pradesh (AP) have sharply criticised the state government for their alleged discrimination in announcing rewards to

Venkat Rahul Ragala

, who won gold medal for India in the 85kg category in the

Commonwealth Games

(

CWG

) at Gold Coast, Australia recently.

Rahul hails from a poor tribal community in Stuvertpuram in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

All India Erukala Association General Secretary Pandu told TOI ,"Government is belittling Rahul's victory. Rahul won medals twice for the country. AP government gave Rs 30 lakh as a reward and this is just an insult to him. While PV Sindhu was given Rs 3 crore by AP government and a plot in

Amaravati

and as well as group 1 job in the government, Rahul has been given just a paltry reward.”

He added,"As Rahul belongs to a tribal community he has been discriminated." He demanded the government to give benefits and reward to Rahul on par with PV Sindhu.

Earlier Rahul's father Ragala Madhu criticised the government for not announcing any reward. He then said, “Had it been someone from the upper caste, the government would have showered rewards upon him.”

State government had earlier announced Rs 15 lakh and two acres of agricultural land for anyone who wins a medal in the CWG games. Two acres of land is yet to be given to the family despite a promise.

Madhu said,"We had to spend a lot of money in training my two sons who won medals in various national and international events.”