In an act of protest, wrestler Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri medal on the pavement near Delhi's Kartavya Path after being stopped by Delhi Police officials while he intended to return his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This gesture follows Punia's announcement on Friday that he would return his Padma Shri award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh as the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Bajrang Punia forced to return Padma Shri due to atrocities of Modi government: Congress
Lashing out at the Centre, the Congress party took to X and shared a video of the wrestler placing his Padma Shri medal on the pavement saying, " What could be more tragic than this? Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who brought glory to the country, placed his Padma Shri award on the footpath outside the Prime Minister's residence. Bajrang Punia says that the Modi government gave him false assurances. When they demonstrated, they harassed them and destroyed the protest site. Today, Bajrang Punia was forced to take this step due to the atrocities of the Modi government. Shameful!"
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh termed it an insult of the entire country, stating, "The insult to players like Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik is not just an insult to them but to the entire country. It is shameful that the players who have raised India's prestige in the world are helpless in front of their own government. The Prime Minister should at least have given up his ego in this matter and assured justice to the players who made the country proud. But the Prime Minister and BJP are with the accused of sexual exploitation. The country stands with its champions.
Earlier in the day, the Congress party held a press conference training guns at the Modi government over wrestler Sakshi Malik's decision to retire from wrestling. More On It: Black Day In History Of Sports In India: Boxer Vijender Singh After Sakshi Malik Quit Wrestling
Following this, both Punia and Malik met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, secured a significant victory in the much-delayed polls, winning 13 of the 15 posts. The results sparked outrage among protesting wrestlers, leading to Punia's decision to return his award.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punia expressed his concerns about the state of wrestling governance in India. He highlighted sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh in January, triggering a prolonged protest by female wrestlers and Punia himself followed by a brief halt.
Despite Centre's assurances, the wrestlers were dissatisfied with the process and resumed their protest in April this year.