Brij Bhushan Case To Sportspersons Returning Awards: Here's What Rahul Gandhi Discussed with Wrestlers

Rahul Gandhi met some wrestlers in Haryana's Jhajjar district on Wednesday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with wrestler Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers at Chhara village, in Jhajjar district.

Source : PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who met some wrestlers in Haryana's Jhajjar district on Wednesday, shared a video of his interaction on Thursday. During his interactions with the grapplers, the Wayanad MP discussed the issue pertaining to their demand for action against Singh who has been accused of sexual harassment and wrestler Bajrang Punia's announcement of returning his Padma Shri award.

During his visit to the 'akhara', Gandhi alo tried his hand at wrestling. Sharing the around-seven-minute-long video clip on X, the Congress leader said, "Misbehaving with talented daughters of the country, betrayal of sportspersons who made the country proud, what kind of tradition is the BJP setting? Dignity and respect, that is all India's wrestlers ask for."

अब होगा ‘न्याय का दंगल’!

भारत की होनहार बेटियों के साथ दुर्व्यवहार, देश का गौरव बढ़ाने वाले खिलाड़ियों को धोखा - BJP क्या ये विरासत दे रही है देश को।

स्वाभिमान और सम्मान - भारत के पहलवानों की बस इतनी सी मांग है। pic.twitter.com/pFveDY6bb9

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 28, 2023

Last week, Punia announced returning his Padma Shri award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). On Tuesday, Vinesh Phogat also decided to return her Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

If Our Sisters And Daughters Are Not Safe What Will I Do With Awards: Punia

In the video, Punia can be heard saying that if the sisters and daughters are not safe, then what will he do with the awards.

"I didn't feel like keeping it. If our sisters and daughters are not safe, what will I do with the awards... Wrestling has given us everything. If its future is not safe, there is no point," Punia said. Punia and coach Arya Virendra Dalal said that the voice against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was raised in 2012 and 2014 as well, but no action was taken then.

"No one had the courage to raise a voice against Brij Bhushan Singh. Our sisters had that courage," Punia said during his interaction with Gandhi. One of the young wrestlers was heard saying that they wanted Sanjay Singh's removal as WFI chief to ensure that their future is safe.