MCD announces Rs five lakh reward for Abhinav Bindra

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs five lakh for shooter Abhinav Bindra, who has earned the feat of becoming India's first Olympic individual gold medallist.

The MCD House passed a resolution lauding the achievement of the Chandigarh marksman, who clinched the gold in 10m air rifle event in the Beijing Olympics on Monday.

However, before the proposal was adopted, the councillors sparred for several minutes over the amount of prize money. While Congress demanded that the award money should be increased, ruling BJP maintained that the "symbolism" rather than the amount being given.

It was also proposed that the civic body should accord a civic reception to Bindra when he arrives in Delhi.

The MCD House today also adopted a resolution condoling the death of veteran Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet and observed a two-minute silence in his memory.