New Delhi, December 23: Wrestler Bajrang Punia made headlines by publicly returning his Padma Shri award in protest against the appointment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide Sanjay Singh as the chief of the WFI. In an act of defiance, Punia placed the prestigious award near the footpath outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
On Friday evening, Bajrang tried to reach the Prime Minister’s residence, but Delhi Police stopped him outside the duty path. In a symbolic protest, Punia left the Padma Shri award on the footpath expressing his dissatisfaction over the recent developments at the WFI.
Emphasizing his disappointment over the current state of wrestling administration in India, Punia told Delhi Police, “I will give the Padma Shri award to the person who takes it to PM Modi.”
Bajrang Punia had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister Modi outlining the reasons behind his decision to return the prestigious award. Internal issues within the wrestling body, particularly the election of Sanjay Singh as WFI president, prompted Punia to take a stand against the lack of respect towards female wrestlers.
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In response to Punia’s protest, the Sports Ministry said that his decision to return the Padma Shri award is a personal one. However, he expressed his intention to persuade Punia to reconsider, insisting that the WFI elections were conducted in a fair and democratic manner.
Bajrang Punia’s protest has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing issues within the Indian Wrestling Federation, with athletes expressing their dissatisfaction with the management and administration of the sport.
