Neeraj Chopra recently shared a tweet while promoting the auctioning of the javelin he had used  earlier this year. 

Stand a chance to make my Olympic javelin yours, at the auction which will take place until Oct 7.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange initiative.

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1)

“Stand a chance to make my Olympic javelin yours, at the auction which will take place until Oct 7. Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange initiative,” he wrote in the post on the micro-blogging website.

With the deadline to bid for the item being October 7, 2021, 5 PM IST, the highest bid is already sitting at Rs 1,00,00,500 and more and more people are offering their bids to have possession of the priceless javelin.

According to Chopra’s tweet, all the proceeds that come from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange Programme, an initiative started by the Government of India in 2014, with the “twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.” The initial budget outlay for this project was Rs 20,000 Cr according to .

However, the Olympic gold medallist’s decision to auction off his memorable javelin did not sit well with some of his fans, even though it is for a good cause. Some felt that Chopra is wrong in giving away that one true thing that not only made him a world champion but also brought him seemingly limitless fame and global recognition. Others simply do not believe in the Namami Gange initiative.

Bhai ji it's your memories for the lifetime with this javelin, please don't sell it in auction...
This money will not go in namami gange, it will go in the pockets of corrupt politicians in power now..please keep it with you bro
Jai haryanavi jai hind

— Ashish Dahiya (@ashishD530)

It's a good initiative .
But Ye paise Khiladi pe kharch karte to jyda acha tha.
Bahut jagah stadium nahi hai junior players kitne hai jinhe financial problems rahti hai us par kharch karte to bahut acha hota.
वैसे सरकार की उपलब्धि गिनाने के काम आएंगे ।

— Er. Sweta rani (@Sahipatel4)

Don't auction it
Rather save it with yourself and motivate the future athletes.
Sarkar ka toh kaam hee hai sb bechna aur ho kya rha inse

— Ankit Choudhary (@AKChoudharyyyy)

Donate it to National Sports Museum, where all previous sports related stuff have been preserved.

More than money, Namami Gange project requires intent.

— Yogesh Kumar ਯੋਗੇਸ਼ ਕੁਮਾਰ (@igoy_k)

I appreciate the spend on initiative and also pro but the question arises that why is not cleaned yet despite of spending billions. Where is accountability or plan or it’s adhoc. Sorry but I have to express the reality

— ManishMadbaiyaUSA (@ManishMadbaiya5)

However, there were also those who felt that it was a great step that Chopra had taken towards protecting the Ganges river and that auctioning his javelin for a cause as big as this will only bring his fans closer to him.

I think it's good initiative taken by d Govt of India .v known Ganga as MaaGanga,it's holy water .it's every1's responsibility dat v should keep clean rivers and surroundings 2.hope fr the best bid for NamamiGange!it's also supported by Shri.Uma Bharati.

— Devyani kubade (@devyani_kubade)

You are a true inspiration for the young of this country!

— Akshay Gupta (@GuyWithYogaMat)

Sir it's a great initiative by our respected pm......u r great

— Kiran Tiwari (@KiranTiwari05)

The auction also features the javelin used by , the badminton racket used by shuttler , a hockey stick signed by the members of the . Other sports equipment such as Bhavani Devi’s fence is also up for grabs. 

The last time such an auction took place was in 2019. In that auction, the government raised over Rs 15.13 crore.