Bajrang Punia, the celebrated wrestler, on Friday announced that he will be returning his Padma Shri award. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Punia said that he was taking this step to protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide getting elected as the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India.

In his statement, Punia recalled the protests against Brijbhushan, which began in January this year. He spoke about how the wrestlers tried to throw their medals in Ganga River but were dissuaded by several sportspersons and other leaders. He also said that he along with other protesting sportspersons had met Union Home Minister and were assured of suitable action.

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) December 22, 2023

However, the December 21 events that saw Brij Bhushan’s ‘nominee’ getting elected as WFI president have forced him to take the decision, Punia said in his statement. He said that Brij Bhushan’s statement that ‘he had and will continue to have control over WFI,’ is really disheartening. Punia also wrote about how Sakshi Malik announced that she will quit wrestling due to this.

Later, Punia was stopped at Kartavya Path as he tried to meet PM Modi. “I will give the Padma Shri award to anyone who will take it to PM Modi,” Punia told Delhi Police officials as they told him that he doesn’t have required permit to go to Parliament. Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had addressed a press conference after Sanjay Singh’s election. Sakshi Malik, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, announced that she would quit the sport as a mark of protest.