Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia welcomed the Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India body. The government on Sunday, December 24 suspended the WFI with immediate effect, saying that the newly-elected body ‘appears to be in complete control of former office bearers’, adding it was in ‘complete disregard to the Sports Code’.

Sanjay Singh, former chief of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling body and a close aide of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected as the new WFI president on Thursday. The Ministry also noted that Sanjay Singh had announced that the U15 and U20 nationals would take place in Gonda before the end of the year and that the call from Singh was ‘hasty’ without following the provisions of the WFI constitution.

Notably, Bajrang Punia, who was one of the faces of the months-long protest against Brij Bhushan and the previous regime of the WFI earlier in the year, expressed his disappointment at the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI president. Bajrang left his Padma Shri on the pavement of Kartavya Path in New Delhi as a mark of protest.

Speaking to AajTak on Sunday, Bajrang Punia said he would be ready to take back his Padma Shri Award, provided the government keeps away Brij Bhushan and his close aides from the wrestling body.

“The Ministry has taken the right decision,” Bajrang said.

“We were accused of being politically charged, they said we are divided by our region. It was portrayed like Haryana vs UP. Sir, we win medals for the country. They were threatening everyone. What, Brij Bhushan is bigger than the government?

“Our stand remains the same. Brij Bhushan and his people should not be part of the WFI. In every state association, he has his people,” he added.

WILL BAJRANG TAKE BACK PADMA AWARD?

When asked if he would be willing to take back the Padma Shri award, Bajrang replied in the affirmative and hit out at trolls, saying all those who labeled the protesting wrestlers as “traitors” were working for Brij Bhushan.

“We were awarded by the government because of some good things we did for the country. Definitely, we will do it (take it back). Trolls are calling us ‘desh drogi (traitor)’. Why? We have given our blood and sweat to the country. All these trolls are Brij Bhushan Singh’s supporters. Who are these trolls to label us?” Bajrang said.

Notably, Rio Olympic medalist Sakshee Malikkh also lashed out at the election of Sanjay Singh and retired from the sport in protest in a teary-eyed press conference in New Delhi on Thursday. Sakshee said she would not go back on her decision until and unless the government acted against Brij Bhushan and his aides.