Shooter Ronak alleges discrimination in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jan 11 (UNI) Ronak Pandit, one of Maharashtra's and the country's most talented shooters, with as many as 40 medals in international events is disgusted with the step motherly treatment meted out by the state government and is planning to shift allegiance to another state.

He has so far achieved the gold medal in the Men's 25m Standard Pistol (Pairs) in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in partnership with Samaresh Jung. Ronak Pandit has also won a silver medal in the Doha Asian Games. He has also won the Asian Championship in 2004 and 2005.

The 21-year-old also became the senior National shooting champ at the age of 16 and was crowned Champion of Champions in India at the age of 18.

He brought countless laurels to his state of Maharashtra in the National Games, but in recognition of all these achievements all that he has received from the state government is a congratulatory letter.

Speaking to UNI, Ronak, whose father Ashok Pandit has also been one of the greats of Indian shooting, said that if he was born in Haryana or Tamil Nadu, he would have won cash prizes worth nearly Rs 50 lakhs according to the sports policy of these states, but here in Maharashtra he has got just Rs 48,000 till now.

''Letters to the state government from the state rifle association as well as personal letters so far have fallen on deaf ears and it is with a heavy heart that he has reached a decision to leave the state for another state in the country, Ronak added.

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