Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik address a news conference as they take part in a sit-in protest demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who they accuse of sexually harassing female players, in New Delhi, India, April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
NEW DELHI- The protesting wrestlers on Monday threatened to approach the top court of the country if an FIR is not lodged against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and also sought to mobilise nationwide support by appealing to ‘khaps’, ‘panchayats’ and several other organisations to back their cause.
On a day when the sports ministry stalled the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election on May 7 and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc committee to run day-to-day affairs of the federation, the protesting wrestlers said they have nothing to do with the polls and would continue to press for a proper investigation into the allegations that Singh sexually harassed women athletes.
Admitting that they made a mistake by ending their protest three months back, the wrestlers, led by Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, said they were “manipulated” by certain people.
“We are not going to listen to anyone now. We will be the face of the protest but we will now be guided by our ‘gurujans’ (elderly) and ‘coach-khalifas’ (mentors). It was a mistake to end the protest the last time around. We will not accept any mediator now, we won’t let anyone deceive us,” said Vinesh.
“All we want is that the police files an FIR and investigates the matter. We are citizens of independent India and there are numerous channels to get justice. Won’t we get it (justice) from anywhere?,” she questioned.
The wrestlers have claimed that they went to Connaught Place Police Station to lodge an FIR against the WFI president but the cops refused to entertain their plea.
While Sakshi said they were manipulated, Bajrang also said that they want ‘khaps’ and other organisations to support their stir.”
When wrestlers had began their protest in January, former wrestler and now BJP affiliate Babita Phogat had mediated between the aggrieved wresters and the government.
However it seems that wrestlers are not happy with the way Babita, who was part of the government’s oversight panel, conducted herself.
“Maybe she loves politics more than the wrestling now,” Vinesh said, while taking a jibe at her cousin sister.
Sakshi said their legal team was contemplating approaching the apex court.
“We will go to the Supreme Court. If we are wrong in levelling the allegations, then a counter FIR should be filed against us,” she said.
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