To show their solidarity with the protesting farmers, three boxing legends of Punjab have announced that they will return their awards.
One of these three boxing legends has served in 1971 Indo-Pak War while serving in the Indian Army. Kaur Singh (1982 Asian Games gold medallist), Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu (chief coach in 2008 Olympics) and Jaipal Singh (1986 Asian Games medallist) have decided to return their Padam Shri, Dronacharya award and Arjuna award, respectively.
Former national boxing coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu said he was pained to see the farmers, including women, sleeping on the roads in protest against the three agriculture laws. GS Sandhu has served as India’s national men’s coach for over two decades before guiding women boxers for a couple of years.
Former Indian hockey team captain Pargat Singh also decided to return the Padma Shri award he received for his outstanding contribution to the sport in 1998 to express solidarity with the farmers who are protesting the new farm laws. The two-time Olympian, who is also a Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, will return the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour on December 7 to protest the contentious farm laws enacted by the Union government.
Rai Singh Dhaliwal, a retired commandant from the Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defence, also announced to return his President’s Medal.
Meanwhile, Baba Sewa Singh, an international environmentalist and head of the Kar Sewa Sect, Khadoor Sahib, announced to return his Padma Shri award to the President. He received the award in 2010 for his social services. Baba Sewa Singh called for a rollback of all three Acts without delay.
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal also returned his Padma Vibhushan. Read more:
