4 months ago
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New Delhi: Soon after posting on X his intention to return his Padma Shri Friday, Bajrang Punia reached Kartavya Path at around 5.30 pm to meet PM Narendra Modi to hand over the award. However, he wasn’t allowed to meet the PM without a prior appointment. Punia then proceeded to leave his award near South Block on Kartavya Path, ThePrint has learnt.
Punia’s X post came a day after Sanjay Singh, a long-time aide of BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was selected as the new president of the wrestling body. Brij Bhushan had to step down from the post after several women wrestlers had levelled allegations of sexual harassment against him.
“Punia wanted to return the Padma Shri but wasn’t allowed to go to the Prime Minister’s office. So, he left his award and walked away,” a member of his team told ThePrint over the phone.
The Padma Shri was taken by the policemen stationed at Kartavya Path.
ThePrint reached the Parliament Street police station to confirm if the aard was indeed confiscated by them. This report will be updated if and when a statement is received.
Case of the missing medals
In May, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh and Punia had decided to immerse their medals in the Ganges in Haridwar in protest but were dissuaded by senior Jat leaders and coaches.
After they sat on the banks of the Ganges for hours, senior Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Naresh Tikait intervened and took their medals. Soon after this, mahapanchayats were conducted in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana on the next steps to continue the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan.
The agitation, however, was discontinued after a breakthrough was achieved following a round of talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
It is not known if the medals are still with Tikait or if they have been returned to the Olympians.
On Thursday, Mallikh, too had announced her decision to quit wrestling following Sanjay Singh’s win.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray)
