New Delhi: As the protest by agitating farmers on Delhi borders against three newly enacted farm laws completes Day 20, ‘Prajashakti’, a Telugu newspaper published a report, claiming that 25,000 soldiers of the Indian Army have returned their Shaurya Chakra medals.
The report claims that Shaurya Chakra Medals were returned to express solidarity with the farmers.
However, when examined, the report turned out to be false and grossly misleading. The paper report has no basis on what it made frivolous claims.
Press Information Bureau (PIB) did a fact check and reported citing official figures that till date, only 2048 Shaurya Chakra medals have been awarded from 1956 till 2019 and therefore this report is absolutely incorrect and fake.
PIB tweeted, ”Prajasakti newspaper has claimed that 25000 soldiers of the #IndianArmy have returned their Shaurya Chakra medals in solidarity with farmers’ protest. #PIBFactCheck: This news is false. Only 2048 #ShauryaChakra have been awarded from 1956 till 2019”.
Claim: Prajasakti newspaper has claimed that 25000 soldiers of the #IndianArmy have returned their Shaurya Chakra medals in solidarity with farmers' protest.#PIBFactCheck: This news is false. Only 2048 #ShauryaChakra have been awarded from 1956 till 2019. pic.twitter.com/9HcZYrqXqa
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) December 15, 2020
The fake report by newspaper comes in wake of several former sportspersons including Padma Shri and Arjuna awardees extending their support to the agitating farmers by offering to return their awards.
