'Will return my Padmashree to PM': Bajrang Punia

New Delhi:  A day after Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), wrestler Bajrang Punia on Friday announced that he will return his Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. 

"I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to announce that. This is my statement," Bajrang Punia tweeted. Check his full statement below.  

Bajrang Punia to Return His Padmashree

Earlier on Thursday, Sanjay Singh, a staunch supporter of Brij Bhushan Singh, was elected as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Following Sanjay Singh's election, wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference to express their disappointments. While speaking to reporters, Sakshi announced her retirement from the sport as a form of protest. 

"Despite our sincere efforts, the election of Brij Bhushan Singh, his business associate, and a close ally as the president of WFI is disheartening. Today, I am stepping away from wrestling. You won't find me on the mat anymore," Sakshi stated, breaking down to tears. 

Echoing similar remarks, Bajrang Punia had said,"The entire country wants to know that why wrestlers have been quite for so long. The oversight committee which was formed after the allegations were levelled then the sports minister on camera and on record said that nobody from the WFI front wouldn't be made a president. Unfortunately what has happened today is just the opposite. I don't think that our women wrestlers will get justice."

"The work to break the courage of women wrestlers is still going. Attempts have been made time and time to put pressure on the victims and eyewitness to change their statements", he claimed.