Prabhakar continues to sing the blues

Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar refused to make any comment on the government move to withdraw Arjuna Awards from the tainted players named in the CBI and K Madhavan reports.

"I do not want to get into any controversy with the Government of India," Prabhakar told rediff.com. "Yeh to andher nagari hai, yahan jo bhi ho jaye kum hai," he added.

Prabhakar said that as on date, he has not received any letter from the sports ministry regarding the withdrawal of the Arjuna award given to him. "I am told that the law ministry will take a final decision. They have to tell us why they are withdrawing the awards," Prabhakar said.

Referring to the attack on his residence, Prabhakar said the police investigation was proceeding on satisfactory lines. "They have enhanced my security," the former all-rounder said. "I am totally satisfied with the progress in the case. I am sure that the police will catch the culprits," he said.

Prabhakar continues to toe the line that he is being victimised for having brought match-fixing into the open. "My name has been cleared in connection with the Kanpur match, so why are they still talking about slow batting? "This," Prabhakar says, "is a clear sign of harassment."

Meanwhile, friends of the former all-rounder continue to be combative on his behalf. "Why," asked one gent close to Prabhakar, "has everyone been quick to take action against cricketers on the basis of the CBI report, while no action is being taken against those politicians whom the CBI has indicted in the Babri Masjid demolition case?"

Mail your comments