Bajrang Punia declares he will return Padma Shri award after Brij Bhushan-aide wins WFI elections

Wrestler Bajrang Punia has announced that he wants to return his coveted Padma Shri award. Punia won the Padma Shri award in 2019. The Olympic Bronze medalist's declaration came after Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh was elected as the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. Bajrang was stopped at Delhi's Kartavya Path by Delhi Police officials as he intended to return his award to the Prime Minister. 

3 things you need to know

• Bajrang Punia announced that he will return his Padma Shri to PM Modi
• Punia made the announcement on social media platform X
• The wrestler received the award in 2019

Bajrang Punia to return his Padma Shri to PM Modi

PTI reported that Sports Ministry will still try to persuade Bajrang to reverse his decision to return Padma Shri. Bajrang Punia announced the return of the award on social media. Here's what he posted.

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Bajrang Punia's letter to PM Modi

“I am returning my Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister. This is a letter to say that,” Punia posted on X.

“Dear Prime Minister ji, hope your health is well. You must be busy in many work but I am writing this to draw your attention to what is happening to the wrestlers of the country. You must be aware that the women wrestlers of the country started a protest in January this year against Brij Bhushan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment. I too had joined their protest. The protest stopped after the government promised strong action,” the Commonwealth Games medal winning wrestler wrote.

“But even after three months, there was no FIR against Brij Bhushan. So we took to the streets in April again so that the Delhi police would at least file an FIR against him. There were 19 complainants in January but the number came down to 7 by April. This means Brij Bhushan exerted his influence and forced the other 12 wrestlers to leave their protests,” he continued.

“Our protest went on for 40 days. There was much pressure on us during those days. Our protest site was vandalized and we were also not allowed to protest any more. We did not know what to do next so we went to immerse our medals in the Ganga. Then we were stopped by the farmer leaders and coaches. At that time a minister from your cabinet called us up and assured us justice. We also met the Union home minister who also promised us of justice. So, we stopped our protest,” the statement further stated.

“But in the election of the WFI on December 21, the federation came under Brij Bhushan once again. He himself said he would prevail over the federation like he did always. Coming under tremendous pressure, Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling,” Punia continued.

“We did not understand what to do, or where to go. The government has given us a lot. I was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2019. I also received the Arjuna, Khel Ratna award. When I got these awards, I was on cloud nine. But today the sadness weighs more. And the reason is a woman wrestler left the sport because of her security,” the wrestler said.

Bajrang Punia's announcement came on the following day when fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik hung up her gloves.

The entire saga of wrestlers protesting against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been an intermittent matter that kept making the headlines throughout 2023.