Background of Wrestler's Protest
On 18 January 2023 Olympic medalists, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik, and Bajrang Punia, among others, sit in protest at Jantar Mantar against the wrestling federation of India chief and BJP (bharatiya janata party) Brij Bhushan Singh and demand for FIR'S and immediate arrest against him as he has been accused of sexual harassment with female Wrestlers
The wrestlers mentioned that the environment of national camps is not safe for female Wrestlers and added that seven female Wrestlers, including a minor tried to file a complaint regarding the same at CP Delhi police station but no FIR was registered against Singh.
WFI denies the allegation calling them baseless as no case has been registered or the complaint has been found in the records of the sports ministry, the sports ministry asks WFI to suspend all ongoing activities.
On April 25, seeking justice, Wrestlers moved to the supreme court and asked the authority to file an FIR against Singh as the issue was neglected. The sports federation and authorities were showing their ignorant behavior towards their protest and demanded for "serious action" regarding the same
On April 28 two complaints were filed against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a minor's complaint.
Protesters Vs Police clashes
Since day one of the protests several clashes between protesters, government, and federation can be traced but the clash between protesters and police took a serious turn when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti without permission reached at protest site with folding beds as the site where the protest was happening was choked because of heavy rainfall late night and protesters were not having a space to sleep
"The area is filled with water [due to rains] and there was no place to sleep, so we thought of bringing the cots," wrestler Vinesh Phogat said in a late-night press conference with media houses
Phogat stated how police has mistreated the protesters and supporters. Male officers showing their male dominance as there were no female officers present at the protest site
Phogat mentioned that on duty a drunk policeman mistreated other male protesters. On inquiry, the allegation of a drunk hit was stated false by the police official's team
Is the new parliament killing justice?
On 28 May a new parliament building was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi Sunday morning when every Indian eye was on the inauguration of the new parliament the historic
Top Wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and many more, less than two kilometers away moving toward the new parliament where they had planned a women's assembly which is also known as 'Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat' against Brij Bhushan Singh
It became a nationwide controversy as the nation saw national-level champions dragging on roads, breaching the barricades, and being detained by the police. wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Poonia, and others were detained by the police
In an interview with ANI Bajrang Punia called government is murdering the democracy of India
Delhi police Disassemble the tents installed by the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar as they were aggressive towards the officers and protested in an unethical manner
Are waves of Ganga going to take away democracy?
After wrestlers detaining the campaign called for a hunger strike and their medals in the holy river Ganga
Sakshi Malik stated on her Twitter handle that the wrestlers will go to Haridwar on Tuesday to immerse the medals into the holy river at 6 pm. As their voice is been unheard by the authorities Wrestlers are been shifted from their site of protest
Wrestlers stated how brutally they have been treated and that has made them take this hard decision and left them questioning what is worth of these wins and medals when "everything being said is left unsaid "Their demand for the resignation and arrest of the president of the wrestling federation has not been heard.
There is no significance of these medals when demands are being compromised. Wrestlers questioned the ruling party: where are the rights of women? Where do women stand in the eyes of the government?
Is the power of democracy been given to the harasser Questioned by the female Wrestlers as Brij Bhushan Singh accuser of the case was invited to the inauguration ceremony adding on Wrestlers mentioned how these medals are their soul and for their rights, they will sit on hunger strike till death on May 30
On Saturday ( May 30 ) with heavy hearts Wrestlers reached Haridwar to devote their medals to the holy river but Naresh Tikait community leader reached the location and asked the Wrestlers to give them the time of five days and their demands will be Heard by the authorities and eventually, they didn't immerse their medals
Meeting with Amit Shah and Anurag Thakur
A meeting held on 7 June with Home Minister Amit Shah ensured that laws are equal for everyone no matter what hierarchy a person stands for and after hours of meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur agreed to suspend their protest till June 15
The authorities have taken charge to look into the matter and file a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Singh and withdrawal of charges against protesters that were filed against them on 28 May
Singh and his associates won't be allowed to participate in the upcoming WFI election as he undergoing an investigation
Inviting Wrestlers publicly for the meeting to have a deep discussion about the issue
Wrestlers have put forward 5 demands in front of authorities
● To safeguard upcoming wrestling champions a woman should head over to the Wrestling Federation of India
● No one from the Singh family should be part of the wrestling federation
● Free and fair elections for wrestling body
● Filing FIR against the officials violating laws in connection to the conflict that occur at Jantar Mantar on April 28
● Arresting of Brij Bhushan Singh against the charges of sexually harassing the female wrestlers
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