Wrestler Bajrang Punia writes letter to PM Modi, says he's returning his Padma Shri award

Olympic Bronze Medallist Bajrang Punia has decided to return his Padma Shri award, the country’s fourth highest civilian honour, back to the government.

Bajrang, a key figure in the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Singh, penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the election of Sanjay Singh as the new President of the WFI. Sanjay Singh is a close aide of Brij Bhushan.

In his letter, Bajrang expressed his inability to retain the 'honour' of the Padma Shri, considering the current plight of female wrestlers in India.

He shared his thoughts on social media, stating that he cannot hold onto the government's awards, including the Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna, given the unsafe environment for his female counterparts in wrestling.

मैं अपना पद्मश्री पुरस्कार प्रधानमंत्री जी को वापस लौटा रहा हूँ. कहने के लिए बस मेरा यह पत्र है. यही मेरी स्टेटमेंट है। 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/PYfA9KhUg9

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

The Tokyo Games medallist also cited the retirement of the only female Olympic medal-winning wrestler from India, Sakshi Malik, following the WFI election results.

Bajrang's letter also touched on the feelings of helplessness and uncertainty that engulfed him and his colleagues throughout the night of December 21 after the election results came out.

He mentioned Brij Bhushan's post-election statement, which implied ‘continued influence and dominance’ in the sport, despite not directly participating in the election. This situation, according to Bajrang, illustrates the vulnerable position of female wrestlers in the face of such power dynamics.

In conclusion, Bajrang expressed that he cannot feel honoured by the awards while witnessing the ongoing disrespect and mistreatment of women wrestlers.