Akali Patron Parkash Singh Badal Returns Padma Award; How Farmers Protest Has Triggered Return Of Award-Wapasi

Other than Badal, former Hockey player-turned-politician Pargat Singh announced to return the Padma Shri award given to him for his outstanding contribution towards sports in 1998.

(Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)

Farmers Protests: In support of the ongoing farmer’s protest over the new contentious farm laws, former Chief Minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) founder Prakash Singh Badal, on Thursday, returned his Padma Vibhushan award in protest against "the betrayal of the farmers by the government". The 91-year old former CM was awarded the second-highest civilian honor, in 2015. "The shocking indifference and contempt with which the government was treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation of the farmers against the three farm Acts,” wrote Badal, in his letter Ram Nath Kovid, President of India. Other than Badal, former Hockey player-turned-politician Pargat Singh announced to return the Padma Shri award given to him for his outstanding contribution towards sports in 1998. Pargat Singh, member of Legislative assembly from Jalandhar Cantt, Punjab, also said he will return all the national awards along with Padam Shree, on December 7, to support the farmer’s agitation. Known to be one of the best full-backs of his era in the international hockey arena, Pargat had captained the Indian hockey team in the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona and the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta Meanwhile, standing in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the new farm laws, another SAD leader and Rajya Sabha member Sukh Dev Singh Dhindsa, also announced to return Padam Shree. Dhindsa, who was presented the Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind in March 2019, told the media that he was returning his award in protest against the agricultural laws. "The award is worthless as farmers are ignored". According to media reports, former Indian basketball player and Arjuna award winner, Sajjan Singh Cheema, has been contacting fellow Arjuna and Padma award-winning sportspersons in Punjab, to return their awards to the President. Reports suggest that Cheema has till now managed to get the support of 30 former athletes, who have won medals in Olympic and continental games. The group includes 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team member Gurmail Singh and Surinder Singh Sodhi. The group has sought an appointment with President Kovind, on December 5, to return their award.