A war of words broke out between star wrestler Bajrang Punia and a former police officer after protesting wrestlers were detained by police while trying to march to the new Parliament on May 28, 2023.
Retired IPS officer NC Asthana reportedly commented on the athletes' protest, saying that if needed, even bullets would be used by police.
Asthana said that while protestors were being dragged like bags of trash for now, police retain the right to open fire under Section 129 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In response, Punia tweeted on May 29 that the wrestlers are standing in the open. He dared the former IPS officer to tell the protestors where they would be shot and added that they would not turn their backs.