New Delhi: Asian Games and Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Vinesh Phogat on Saturday, left her Arjuna and Khel Ratna Awards on the pavement of Kartavya Path in New Delhi. She had promised to return her awards as a mark of protest against the treatment of female wrestlers in the country amid the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) row. The wrestler had written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing her disappointment over the turn of events and the election of new WFI president Sanjay Singh. He is a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers.
Vinesh Phogat attempted to leave her awards outside the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi. However, she was stopped by police at the Kartavya Path. Vinesh decided to leave her awards on the pavement of Kartavya Path.
“I was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, but they hold no meaning in my life anymore. Every woman wants to live life with respect. Therefore, Prime Minister, I want to return my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to you so that these awards don’t become a burden on us in the path of living with honor,” she had written in her letter to the PM.
Notably, Bajrang Punia had also returned his Padma Shri Award, leaving it on the Kartavya Path pavement earlier in the month as a mark of protest. Sakshee Malikkh retired in protest against the newly-elected WFI panel in December in a teary-eyed press conference in the capital city.
Notably, Sanjay Singh, who is close to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, won the WFI elections earlier in the month.
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