Haryana: Rahul Gandhi reached Virendra Arya Akhara in Jhajjar, met many wrestlers including Bajrang Punia
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Women wrestlers are adamant in demanding action against former Indian Wrestling Association president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Amidst the Indian Wrestling Association controversy, Congress MP leader Rahul Gandhi reached Virendra Arya Akhara in Chhara village of Jhajjar district. Here he talked to wrestlers including Bajrang Punia.
In fact, women wrestlers are adamant in demanding action against former Indian Wrestling Association President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. At the same time, wrestler Sakshi Malik decided to quit wrestling in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh Bablu, close to Brijbhushan, as the new president of the federation.
Haryana | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reaches Virender Arya Akhara in Chhara village of Jhajjar district and interacts with wrestlers including Bajrang Poonia. pic.twitter.com/CfBNpW51NJ
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023
After this, wrestler Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri in front of the PM residence. Vinesh Phogat has also returned her Arjun Award and Major Dhyan Chand Sports Award.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi reached Jhajjar district early on Wednesday morning. Rahul Gandhi reached Virendra Arya Akhara in Chhara village. Here he talked to wrestlers including Bajrang Punia.
Now Vinesh returns Khel Ratna and Arjun Award
After Sakshi Malik's retirement and Bajrang returning the Padma Shri, now Asian Games gold medalist wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjun Award on Tuesday. Vinesh has taken this step in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh, former president of the Indian Wrestling Federation and close to BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the president of the federation. Vinesh announced the return of her award in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
Third wrestler to return the award
Vinesh is the third wrestler to return the award after Bajrang and wrestler Virendra Singh returned the Padma Shri. However, following protests by Sakshi Malik, Bajrang and Vinesh, the Sports Ministry had suspended the elected Wrestling Federation on December 21 and put a stop to its daily functioning. The ministry had also requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to set up an ad-hoc committee to look after the functioning of the federation. However, the committee has not been formed yet.
Awards have no meaning in life
Vinesh wrote in the letter that Sakshi has given up wrestling and Bajrang has returned his Padmashree. The whole country knows the compulsion under which this was done. Vinesh wrote that no mother in the country would want her daughter to be in this condition. I want to get rid of the image of Vinesh receiving the award. Khel Ratna and Arjun Award have no meaning in my life now. Vinesh wrote in the end that every woman wants to live with respect, hence she is returning her awards, so that these awards do not become a burden on us in the way of living with respect.
