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Bajrang Punia says he’ll return the state award to protest the election of a brand new president backed by his predecessor who was accused of sexual assault.
An Indian male wrestler says he’s returning one of many nation’s highest civilian awards to protest the election of a president to the game’s governing physique backed by his predecessor, who’s accused of sexually harassing feminine wrestlers.
Bajrang Punia, the primary Indian wrestler to win 4 world championship medals, was awarded the Padma Shri – the fourth highest civilian award – by the Indian president in 2019 for his achievements as an athlete.
On Friday, Punia shared his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
His determination to return the award got here a day after Sanjay Singh was elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Singh was supported by former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
VIDEO | Wrestler @BajrangPunia stopped at Delhi’s Kartavya Path by Delhi Police officers. Earlier at the moment, Punia introduced on X that he’s returning his Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/cQUg3gpzDK
— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
Brij Bhushan Singh, additionally a six-time lawmaker from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP), has rejected the allegations towards him.
His case is pending trial, BJP officers stated. There was no speedy official response from the federal government to Punia’s letter to Modi.
On Thursday, protesting girls wrestlers stated they have been shocked {that a} man backed by Brij Bhushan Singh was allowed to guide the WFI.
A prime feminine wrestler, Sakshi Malik, stated their protests have been neglected and introduced her retirement from the game at a press convention in New Delhi.
In January, Punia had joined the protests by girls wrestlers towards Brij Bhushan Singh, who was charged in June for sexually harassing six girls wrestlers.
Brij Bhushan Singh was stripped of his administrative powers by the Sports activities Ministry and the federal government vowed to analyze the allegations and shield feminine athletes.
The United World Wrestling (UWW), the game’s international governing physique, suspended the WFI following the scandal.
The WFI missed the August deadline to nominate a brand new president, forcing Indian wrestlers to compete as impartial athletes in international occasions.
Opposition events have criticized Modi’s authorities for its response to the allegations, which have attracted international consideration attributable to a collection of scandals over the therapy of girls in sports activities.
High wrestler from India returns honors in protest towards the brand new head of the sports activities group | Girls’s rights information
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