Wrestler Bajrang Punia leaves Padma Shri on pavement near PM’s residence
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri on the pavement of Kartavya Path, following the appointment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh’s as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Punia spoke to reporters after leaving his Padma Shri on Kartavya Path, saying he could not meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to his busy schedule, while insisting that he would not be taking the medal back home.
“As I have said earlier we were fighting for our daughters and sisters. I could not get justice for them. Due to this, I think I do not deserve this honour. I came here to return my award, However, I could not meet with PM because I didn’t have an appointment. PM has a busy schedule. So I am putting my award on the letter written to PM. I will not take this medal to my home,” Punia told reporters.
Sanjay Singh defeated former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran by 40 votes to 7 in the much-awaited WFI elections which were held in New Delhi on Thursday, December 21.
Sakshee Malikkh, Punia, and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference following Sanjay Singh’s election, during which Malikkh announced her intention to quit the sport in protest.
“We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling. From today onwards you will not see me on the mat,” Malikkh said.
Malikkh broke down while addressing the press conference in the national capital before leaving the venue, expressing deep distress and emotion. The WFI elections, which were originally scheduled for August 12, were postponed due to a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which extended the stay until September 25.
These elections, which were originally scheduled for June, govern wrestling across the country. Punia and Malikkh met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur in the national capital earlier this month to discuss the WFI elections.
Top wrestlers from the country had staged a 5-month long protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan after accusing the former chief and BJP MP of sexually harassing female wrestlers.