Vinesh Phogat leaves her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards at Kartavya Path
Vinesh Phogat left her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards on a pavement at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Earlier this week, the wrestler though a social media post had said that she has decided to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna award saying that such honours have become meaningless in the current situation where the grapplers are struggling badly for justice.
The move came despite the government suspending newly elected Wrestling Federation of India.
Phogat, the two-time World Championship medal winner, announced her decision in her letter penned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In the letter posted on X, Phogat said their lives are not like those «fancy government advertisements» that talk about women empowerment and upliftment.
«The Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards don't have any meaning in my life now.
Every woman in this country wants to lead a dignified life. So PM sir I want to return my Dhyan Chand and Arjun award to you so that these awards don't become a burden on us in our endeavour to lead a dignified life,» she wrote in her letter.
Vinesh was conferred with the Khel Ratna, the highest sports honour in India, in 2020 while she received the Arjuna Award in 2016.
Phogat's decision comes days after Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia also decided to return his media.
Sanjay Singh, seen as a close associate of Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan, was elected as Wrestling Federation of India's chief last week.
Brij Bhushan was accused of sexual harassment of several women wrestlers by Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
