Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has made a symbolic protest by leaving his Padma Shri award on the pavement of Kartavya Path in Delhi, in protest over the appointment of the sport's new president. This act of dissent is in response to the election of Sanjay Singh as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which has been met with disapproval from various wrestlers. Following Punia's actions, Deaflympics gold medalist Virender Singh Yadav, also known as 'Goonga Pehlwan,' announced his decision to return his Padma Shri in solidarity with the wrestlers' objections. The controversy has drawn comments from political figures, with NCP MP Supriya Sule suggesting that the Union Sports Minister should meet with the athletes to hear their concerns, and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij expressing that the athletes should retain their awards and continue their sport while addressing their issues.
#WATCH | Indore, MP: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's statement, BJP MLA Kailash Vijayvargiya says, "Some people want to break the country. Such people are getting exposed...These people belong to the 'Ghamandiya' alliance. Such talks happen and Congress keeps silent..." https://t.co/xcCz4j1nLc
#WATCH | Patna: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's statement, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi says, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav should break their silence on this. DMK should be thrown out of the INDIA alliance. Such statements are not being made for the first… https://t.co/SHwf5gsSNt
"These people want to divide North and South India": Nityanand Rai on DMK's MP Dayanidhi Maran's controversial remarks Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/yHe0bvlf65 #NityanandRai #DayanidhiMaran #DMK https://t.co/FFCR8dTZlK
#WATCH | Delhi: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's Statement, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "Such statements are insulting...It is a very big insult to the Hindi speakers of the country...Those making such statements should be punished...The country is watching that people from the alliance… https://t.co/KxGsRlG4aX
Wrestler Bajrang Punia has returned his Padma Shri medal. He followed it up with an open letter addressed to the prime minister https://t.co/WZfwNEcgNC
#WATCH | On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's Statement, Union Minister Nityanand Rai says, " Dayanidhi Maran has made a very objectionable statement. On one side PM Modi speaks about 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' and today people want to divide North India and South India but that won't… https://t.co/YuBc1QjnCc
#WATCH | Ambala: On INDIA Alliance, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij says, "... There is an attempt to divide the north and the south. But in the north and the south all are Indians, all are one." https://t.co/s5OuS2F7DQ
#WATCH | Ambala: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij says, "There is an attempt to divide the north and the south. But in the north and the south all are Indians, all are one." https://t.co/WlMCFZZ6lj
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's Statement, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav says, "Karunanidhi's party is the DMK. The DMK believes in social justice. If any leader of that party has said something about the people of UP and Bihar, then it is condemnable. We do… https://t.co/qtEuDUOYcr
#WATCH | On terrorist attacks in J&K, NCP MP Supriya Sule in Mumbai says, "It is very painful, five jawans have lost their lives. I urge the Union Home Minister to review the situation...and make sure that such incidents should not be repeated. Central Govt should take action to… https://t.co/cmlVkgJqk8
#WATCH | On suspension of MPs from Parliament, NCP MP Supriya Sule in Mumbai says, "...What is unfortunate is that everyone has forgotten the attack on Parliament. We must discuss the security of the Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker, all the MPs and the entire Lok Sabha… https://t.co/XATqayRl3D
#WATCH | Angul, Odisha: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's Statement, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "The whole country will reply to the arrogant people and to the 'Ghamandiya' alliance. In Tamil Nadu also, they will get the answer." https://t.co/S4ArIH8vz7
#WATCH | National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah says, "Terrorists attacked Surankote and our soldiers lost their lives...Our police personnel detained some locals...Are we fighting terrorists or our people? If we are fighting with our people then we can never win this...I want to… https://t.co/bDpoj8dKKK
#WATCH | Ambala: On wrestler Bajrang Punia returns his Padma Shri award, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij says, "Their awards are their right. They shouldn't return it they should keep it and keep playing their sport. If they have an issue then they should put forward their stance… https://t.co/UEc6jHBzxk
After #BajrangPunia , gold medalist #VirenderSinghYadav declares that he will return his Padma Shri Award in protest against the appointment of #SanjaySingh as the president of WFI Read more at: https://t.co/PL6JlK9lxv https://t.co/VIlmZAox2W
Deaflympics gold medallist Virender Singh Yadav, better known as Goonga Pehlwan, has now decided to return his #PadmaShri, showing solidarity with country's top wrestlers who have objected to election of Brij Bhushan Singh loyalist as #WFI president. https://t.co/eG2RZMJ9NB
#WATCH | On wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, NCP MP Supriya Sule says, "...The Union Sports Minister should meet them and listen to what they have to have." https://t.co/tPkHg83DVY
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal's 'Kharge-Pharge' statement, Union Minister Nityanand Rai says, "This is their issue but it is a fact that in the INDI Alliance, the way Congress has behaved with Nitish Kumar, it is being realised by Nitish Kumar now. He has gone… https://t.co/1E7ejugRT1 https://t.co/bGESGru1rh
Indian wrestler to return honour in protest over sport's new president https://t.co/F9tBJW6fwj https://t.co/EsYE8sRiEo
"Will not take it back home": Bajrang Punia leaves Padma Shri on Kartavya Path pavement; police keep it Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/xmgv35rWWN #BajrangPunia #PadmaShri #KartavyaPath https://t.co/rBwADjbxS1