A prominent Indian wrestler says he will return one of the country's highest civilian honors to protest the election of a president to the sport's governing body backed by his predecessor, who was accused of sexually assaulting wrestlers.
Bajrang Punia, the first Indian wrestler to win four medals at the world championships, was awarded the Padma Shri – the fourth highest civilian honor – by the President of India in 2019 for his sporting achievements.
On Friday, Punia shared her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on insulted.”
The decision to reinstate the award comes a day after Sanjay Singh was elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Singh was supported by former WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh.
VIDEOS | wrestler @BajrangPunia arrested on Kartavya Lane in Delhi by Delhi Police officers. Earlier today, Punia announced on X that he would return the Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/cQUg3gpzDK
– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
Brij Bhushan Singh, who is also a six-time MP from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has rejected the allegations against him.
The matter is being investigated, BJP leaders said. There has been no official response from the government to Puni's letter to Modi.
Protesting women wrestlers on Thursday expressed shock that a man backed by Brij Bhushan Singh was allowed to lead the WFI.
One of the biggest female wrestlers, Sakshi Malik, claimed their protests had been ignored and announced she was quitting the sport at a press conference in New Delhi.
In January, Punia joined protests by female wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Singh, who was accused of sexually assaulting six female wrestlers in June.
The Sports Ministry stripped Brij Bhushan Singh of her administrative powers and the government promised to investigate the allegations and protect female athletes.
United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport's global governing body, suspended the WFI following the scandal.
The WFI missed an August deadline to appoint a new president, forcing Indian wrestlers to compete in world competitions as neutral athletes.
Opposition parties have criticized Modi's government for its response to the allegations, which have focused global attention on a series of scandals over the treatment of women in sport.
