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- Published: December 30, 2023 19:02
New Delhi: The Wrestlers vs. Brij Bhushan Singh row took another turn on Saturday, as the veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award in the form of a protest against the BJP MP.
The wrestlers have been protesting for months against the alleged sexual harassment case against the former WFI Chief but are now getting impatient as even after months of protest, no official action has been taken against the politician.
Vinesh Phogat is the latest addition to the list of wrestlers returning their national awards to the government, as Bajarang Punia also returned his Padma Shri award to PM Modi after the Wrestling Federation of India election results.
Check out the video below:
यह दिन किसी खिलाड़ी के जीवन में न आए। देश की महिला पहलवान सबसे बुरे दौर से गुज़र रही हैं। #vineshphogat pic.twitter.com/bT3pQngUuI
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) December 30, 2023
Wrestlers were angry at the fact that, after months of delay in the election, one of Brij Bhuasan Singh’s close allies, Sanjay Singh, was appointed as the new WFI chief.
As soon as the election results were announced, wrestlers got vocal, as the only female Indian wrestler to win an Olympic Medal, Sakshi Malik, decided to quit the sport, calling the election results unjust, followed by Bjaranj Punia’s decision to return his Padma Shri award.
Notably, the Sports Ministry of India decided to suspend the entire newly elected committee and decided to make an ad-hoc based committee to take over until the reactions are recontested.
However, what effects will Vinesh Phogat’s decision will bear, only time will tell.
Netizens react
As soon as the video of Vinesh Phogat returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award made its way to the internet, netizens on social media platform X (Formerly known as Twitter) decided to give their take on the matter.
Some were in support of the female wrestler and were calling out the government on their negligence towards the matter, while some were calling Vinesh Phogat’s decision just a PR stunt, calling her protest and demands selfish.
Check out their reactions below:
यह लोकतंत्र व खेल जगत के लिए काला दिवस है व भाजपा सरकार पर ऐसा दाग जो कभी धुल नहीं पायेगा।#VineshPhogat pic.twitter.com/lnc3W4x17U
— Ritik Gupta (@RitikGupta1999) December 30, 2023
विनेश फोगाट ने कर्तव्य पथ पर प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय के नज़दीक रखा अपना अर्जुन अवार्ड और खेल रत्न .. वो ये अवार्ड वापस करने की घोषणा पहले ही कर चुकी हैं। #VineshPhogat pic.twitter.com/JMAKFW0cKQ
— Amandeep Pillania (@APillania) December 30, 2023
यह दिन किसी खिलाड़ी के जीवन में न आए। देश की महिला पहलवान सबसे बुरे दौर से गुज़र रही हैं। #vineshphogatpic.twitter.com/zrrnlRtg7p
— Mahima Yadav (@SinghKinngSP) December 30, 2023
“I won’t give proof against Brijbhushan Singh, just believe in my words because I’m a celebrity – Vinesh Phogat when she was asked to submit proof” pic.twitter.com/O9zcgAFcr4
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) December 27, 2023
Earlier today wrestler Vinesh Phogat left her Arjuna and Khel Ratna award lying in the middle of Kartavya Path. It was later picked up by Delhi Police. #Wrestling pic.twitter.com/raUZazlNAv
— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) December 30, 2023
भगवान राम को घर दिलवाने का दावा करने वाले, देश के बेटियों को सम्मान नहीं दिला पा रहे,
विनेश फोगाट ने भी अपना अर्जुन अवार्ड और खेल रत्न प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय के बाहर रखा।
– सत्यपाल मलिक गवर्नर #vineshphogat #WFI #KhelRatnahttps://t.co/0NvVHTs32J pic.twitter.com/MY3L4vmdUM— Satyapal Malik 🇮🇳 (@Satypalmalikg) December 30, 2023
लड़ाई हमेशा बलिदान और त्याग मांगती है !
यह दोनों हमारे किसान कौम में सदियों से है !!#vineshphogat pic.twitter.com/YEsidhpgh0— Ashok Danoda🚜 (@ashokdanoda) December 30, 2023
विनेश फोगाट ने भी लौटाया अपना खेल रत्न और अर्जुन अवार्ड. प्रधानमंत्री ऑफिस के बाहर रखा अपना मैडल और खेल रत्न! #vineshphogat pic.twitter.com/2fuTRvon3S
— Sukhdev singh (@ssukhdev737) December 30, 2023
इज्जत से बड़ा कोई भी पुरस्कार बड़ा नहीं होता !
विनेश फोगाट ने अपना खेल रत्न और अर्जुन अवार्ड प्रधानमंत्री ऑफिस के बाहर रखा. उन्होंने 3 दिन पहले ही अवार्ड लौटाने की घोषणा की थी !!
गर्व है बहन आप ने झुकना नहीं लड़ना चुना है ।@BajrangPunia @SakshiMalik #VineshPhogat pic.twitter.com/gPn9x1Q7dJ— Ashok Danoda🚜 (@ashokdanoda) December 30, 2023