BHUBANESWAR 05-May-2018
Odisha Olympian Dutee Chand created yet another controversy today by asking questions on the parameters of VIP status. Denied permission to keep her car in the VIP parking area near Jagannath temple in Puri, the fastest woman of the country took to social media platform to express her annoyance.
Narrating her unpleasant experiences on Facebook, ace sprinter wrote: ``Every time I visit Puri Jagannath temple, police personnel ask for VIP pass when I go for parking vehicle in the earmarked area. Who is a VIP ? Someone who has represented India in the Olympics is not a VIP? What should one do to become a VIP? Kindly suggest. ’’
During her last trip to the Jagannath Temple on April 12, Dutee was denied to park her car in the VIP parking lot, she said in the post. She lashed out at the on-duty police personnel for not allowing to have her way.
While sympathy poured in for the speedster, lot of followers also criticized her for making it an issue. ``Join Politics, you will become VIP. Politicians rule India and only they are the VIPs,’’ said Mohammed Masihullah Zia.
``I think this a gross miscarriage of law. Dutee please lodge a complaint with the state administration, CM to look in to the matter. If Dutee is not a VIP then there is no VIP in Odisha not even Mr CM. DC of Puri must take this matter serious and try to mitigate the disrespectful behavior of the administration to an Olympiad,’’ observged Sanatan Samal.
``Dutee madam of course you are a VIP. But rules are rules. Neither you nor that constable who work are wrong. Therefore for your convenience it would be better you write a letter to the sports ministry and concerned collector to obtain pass,’’ an Orissa High Court lawyer Deepak Panda commented.
``Why are you so keen to become a VIP? You are an athlete and should remain just that,’’ quipped eminent senior journalist Sandeep Sahoo.
