‘BJP’s apathy, blatant disregard’: DK Shivakumar on Sakshi Malik retirement

DK Shivakumar hit out at the BJP after Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia announced their decisions to quit wrestling and return his Padma Shri award, respectively.

Published on: Dec 23, 2023, 08:04:40 IST

By Yamini C S

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Professional wrestler Sakshi Malik's retirement announcement and Bajranj Punia's decision to return his Padma Shri award has prompted reactions from several quarters across the country, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who on Friday condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their alleged “apathy”.

Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar (PTI) (HT_PRINT)

The DCM, who is also the president of the Congress party's Karnataka unit, took to social media on Friday night, writing that Malik and Punia's decisions raised questions about the saffron party's “intent and commitment” towards wrestlers. He added that the BJP’s “apathy and blatant disregard” for the players was “distressing”, calling the party “insensitive” towards women's safety.

READ | Women wrestlers’ voice ignored by government, says Sakshi Malik’s mother

“First, the moving announcement to quit wrestling by #SakshiMalik, who brought glory to the country with her Olympic medal, and now #BajrangPunia returning the Padma Shri award raise serious questions about the BJP's intent and commitment to the cause of female wrestlers. BJP’s apathy and blatant disregard for the plight of affected players are distressing, shedding light on the party's insensitivity towards women's safety,” He wrote on social media site ‘X’, formerly Twitter.

Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia's decisions came after the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Malik announced her decision to quit wrestling on Thursday at a press conference, while Punia said on Friday that he will leave his Padma Shri award along with a letter to Prime Minister Modi.

"We slept for 40 days on the roads and a lot of people from several parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling," Malik had said.

READ | Someday, there will be justice: 'Dishonoured' Bajrang returns Padma award

“We were fighting for our daughters and sisters. I could not get justice for them. Due to this, I think I do not deserve this honour. I came here to return my award, However, I could not meet with PM because I didn't have an appointment. PM has a busy schedule. So I am putting my award on the letter written to PM. I will not take this medal to my home,” Punia also told reporters.

Both Malik and Punia have been active protestors against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has sexual harassment allegations against him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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