NEW DELHI: Top Indian wrestlers, including Olympic bronze medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, have resumed their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.
These athletes had previously levelled these allegations against Singh on January 18 during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Seven women wrestlers, including a minor, have also filed a complaint against Singh at the Connaught Place police station in Delhi. However, a First Information Report based on the complaint is yet to be filed, according to wrestler Sakshee Malikkh.
The athletes are frustrated that a government panel report on the issue hasn’t been made public yet, despite it recording the statement of women wrestlers.
According to latest Indian media reports, the Sports Ministry had formed a five-member oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, on January 23 and asked it to submit its findings in one month. Later, it extended the deadline by two weeks and also added Babita Phogat to the probe panel as its sixth member on the insistence of the protesting wrestlers. However, the athletes claim they have not received any response from the government despite repeated attempts.
“We won’t leave from here until Brij Bhushan is arrested,” Bajrang Punia said during the sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Vinesh Phogat added that they were not getting any response from the government despite repeated attempts, and they would continue to protest until they received justice.
“We have won medals for the country and have put our careers at stake for this,” Vinesh Phogat said. “From podium to footpath,” Phogat tweeted, sharing a picture of wrestlers sleeping on a footpath. “We are going to sleep and eat here till we get justice.”
The athletes have also insisted that the names of the complainants must not be leaked.
