Wrestler Bajrang Punia writes to PM Modi, says he will return Padma Shri in protest over WFI elections | Sport-others News

Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Thursday wrote to Prime Miner Narendra Modi saying that he is returning his Padma Shri award as a mark of protest over the results of the recent Wrestling Federation of India elections where Sanjay Singh, a loyal of the controversial Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected as the president.“I am returning my Padma Shri award to the Prime Miner. This is a letter to say that,” Punia posted on X.
“Dear Prime Miner 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 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 the farmer leaders and coaches. At that time a miner from your cabinet called us up and assured us justice. We also met the Union home miner 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 shed tears the entire night. 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.
“Sports have empowered our women athletes and changed their lives but the situation is such that the women who could have been the brand ambassadors of beti bachao, beti padhao are now leaving the sport. And we, the wrestlers who were ‘awarded’ could not do anything. I can’t live my life as a Padma Shri awardee while our women wrestlers are insulted. Hence I return this award to you,” the statement concluded.
On Thursday, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan’s close associate Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of Wrestling Federation of India after he beat Anita Sheoran 40 votes to seven. Prem Chand Lochab, who was from the opposing faction seemingly supported the protesting wrestlers, was elected as the secretary-general.
On the same day, 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medall Sakshi Malik had announced that she was quitting wrestling following Singh being elected as president of WFI.

“Yeh ladai dil se ladi (We fought this battle with our heart). In the end, we slept for 40 days on the roads but I’d like to thank the several people of our country who came to support us during the protests earlier this year. If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling…” Malik told members of the media in a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday before she walked out in tears with those present at the venue appealing her to reconsider her decision.
“This is Brij Bhushan’s right-hand man. Apne khud ke bete se bhi zyada khaas hai (He’s more special than his own son). Now that he is president, the coming batch of women wrestlers will also fall prey to them. What has happened behind closed doors will happen in the open,” Vinesh told members of the media in a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday. “From the start (Brij Bhushan’s) their camp was saying they will come into power. We knew what their position was. It is sad that people like these are getting these positions.”