Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Kiran Wattal, the President of the J&K Gymnastics Association, has issued a Rs 5 crore defamation notice to Girdhari Lal Raina, also known as Ajay Bharti, for allegedly making false and derogatory statements against him in a recent press conference. Wattal has accused Raina of attempting to tarnish his reputation with baseless allegations designed to damage his credibility and public image.
In his notice, Wattal highlighted his longstanding contributions to the sporting community, emphasizing his role in leading the Indian contingent as the head of delegation at international events multiple times. He also pointed out his tenure as Chef De Mission, appointed by the J&K Sports Council through order No SC/846-VIII/10278-84 dated January 27, 2025, to facilitate the contingent and ensure they faced no issues during the competition.
The handout issued emphasized that Wattal has been instrumental in raising the profile of gymnastics in J&K, overseeing the hosting of three national events and various training camps that have benefited the state’s athletes. Under his leadership, J&K gymnasts recently won seven medals at the National Games in Uttarakhand, surpassing their previous performance. The state’s success in sports has been bolstered by the efforts of LG Manoj Sinha and the central Government, with J&K securing an impressive 237 gold, 147 silver, and 212 bronze medals at the national level.
Additionally, Wattal pointed out the success of the Khelo India Winter Games held in Gulmarg, where J&K athletes excelled in both the 2020 and 2021 editions. Wattal criticized Raina for attempting to undermine these achievements for political gain by dragging the names of the Chief Minister and Sports Minister into his baseless allegations, which he believes are designed to create regional divisions.
Wattal’s defamation suit calls for Rs 5 crore in damages for the harm caused to his reputation and public standing.
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