Bajrang Punia Returns Padma Shri, CM Siddaramaiah Questions PM Modi’s Silence

In a turn of events, Indian wrestling stalwart BajrangPunia has chosen to return his prestigious PadmaShri, following his fellow athlete Sakshi Malik announced to step away from wrestling. This drastic action comes as a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief election.

Expressing his concern over the matter,Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his conspicuous silence on the issue. The athletes, who have brought laurels to the nation through their remarkable achievements in wrestling, find themselves at the center of a troubling development.

The Wrestling Federation of India has been embroiled in controversy recently, with athletes expressing dissatisfaction over the handling of the chief election. In a bold move, Bajrang Punia, known for his exceptional contributions to Indian wrestling, has returned the Padma Shri, a recognition bestowed upon him for his outstanding achievements.

Siddaramaiah has criticized the Prime Minister, questioning the apparent neglect of concerns raised by India’s wrestling torchbearers. Despite Narendra Modi’s vocal stance on patriotism, his silence on issues affecting the sporting community has raised eyebrows.

The Chief Minister took to social media to highlight the discrepancy, stating, “It is disheartening to witness the return of Padma Shri by our wrestling stalwart #BajrangPunia and the decision of #SakshiMalik to step away from the sport. What is more surprising is the silence maintained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this matter. While he often speaks about patriotism, the concerns of our wrestling champions seem to be neglected.”

Siddaramaiah also called out leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing them of invoking the Jat angle when questioned about the alleged misuse of the Vice-President’s chair. However, he pointed out their lack of responsiveness to the issues faced by female wrestlers from the Jat community.

“We express our solidarity with Indian wrestlers and offer our support in their pursuit of justice,” Siddaramaiah emphasized.

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