Wrestlers Protest LIVE: Top India wrestlers will ask the Supreme Court on Friday to register a case in response to their accusations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the MP for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). 3 months after first protest, wrestlers have once again assembled at Jantar Mantar in demand for justice. The likes of Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others have led the protest with sexual allegations labelled against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The court sent a notice to the Delhi Police today and described the accusations as “serious”.
Wrestlers also requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi involvement in the matter. Seeking PM’s intervention, Olympic medallist Punia as per IE said: “When players win medals, you stand with them. When they are on the road, then you are silent.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest at Jantar Mantar, Bajrang Punia revealed that the wrestlers had lost all faith in the Sports Ministry and the IOA.
Following their initial protests, a six-member oversight committee was established and a report of the same was submitted to the government. However, after 3 months no action has been taken.
Also Read: Wrestlers Protest LIVE: ‘We do not care about WFI Election, our issue is with Brij Bhushan Singh’ – Bajrang Punia, Wrestlers double down on Jantar Mantar protest – Follow LIVE Updates
‘Committees of no use, we don’t trust IOA anymore’
“Our belief has been broken. We waited for 3 months for action but now have no hope left from the Sports Ministry, SAI. Now, we have placed our trust in the judiciary. We will consult with our legal team before moving to the Supreme Court,” Bajrang Punia told Insidesport.IN
After the protests resumed on Sunday, the MYAS called for the IOA to set up an ad-hoc committee to conduct the WFI Elections. The polls were initially set for May 7th, but the current climate meant that they were postponed. IOA chief PT Usha revealed that the committee sits on the 27th of April and a decision regarding the same will be met soon. However, the wrestlers have little hope.
Bajrang said, “Sports Ministry made a committee earlier as well, but we did not get any desired result. Now they have made one more, but we do not want any more committees. We have nothing to do with the election. We have one motive – justice.”
He added that despite being suspended both Brij Bhushan Singh and Vinod Tomar have increased influence in the sport.
“The committees are all just namesakes, it is Brij Bhushan Singh’s show. Vinod Tomar, who is suspended, he is attending ceremonies, conferring medals on female wrestlers. The tournaments are also held at their strongholds, despite allegations of sexual harassment,” he added.
‘Protest to continue, no problem sleeping on footpath’
The protesters slept on the footpath and continued their protest into the second day. Vinesh Phogat shared a powerful message on how wrestlers were forced off the podium straight onto the footpath to fight injustice. The wrestlers promised they will continue to stay at night until the matter is not resolved.
“We will stay the night today as well. We are not troubled by the inconvenience. All of us were born and raised on farmlands, not AC rooms and Mansions. We have worked on the fields and slept under the sky before and we will continue to do so until the protest carries on,” Bajrang Punia said.
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