Protesting wrestlers defer immersing medals in Ganga, give 5-day deadline
Wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday deferred immersing their medals in the Ganga River, giving the Centre a five-day deadline to take action against him. Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Mallikkh, and Vinesh Phogat, among others, earlier reached Haridwar, Uttarakhand—where they broke down clutching their hard-earned medals—before they were requested not to go ahead with the move.
Why does this story matter?
For over four months, wrestlers have been protesting against the WFI's chief, who is facing sexual harassment allegations. The protesters were dragged away by security forces on Sunday while they attempted to march to the new Parliament during its inauguration to draw attention to their demand. Singh is an MP of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been accused of protecting him.
Take action within given deadline, say wrestlers
The wrestlers decided to halt the immersion of their medals reportedly after farmer leader Naresh Takait intervened and convinced them not to throw their medals and instead give five days' time to the Centre. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief also took the medals from the wrestlers, who said they would return to Haridwar if no action was taken against Singh within five days.
Medals have no meaning anymore: Wrestlers
Before deferring their move, the grapplers said they would let go of the medals they won for India as they had "no meaning" anymore. They have been protesting for months against the lack of action against Singh—accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation by seven female wrestlers, including a minor. Reportedly, they also plan to launch an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's India Gate.
'Did we win medals to see this day?' asks Malikkh
Turned into laughing stock: Malikkh
Earlier on Tuesday, Malikkh tweeted a statement saying, "Did we do anything wrong by seeking justice against sexual harassment? The police and the system are treating us like criminals." She added the "abuser" has accepted his wrongdoing on TV and turned the protesters into a laughing stock. "Did we win medals so that the system can...drag us and brand us as criminals?" she asked.
No point in living by compromising one's self-respect: Malikkh
Malikkh further said, "The police treated us barbarically despite protesting peacefully. Our protest site was dismantled and the next day an FIR was slapped on us." "Women wrestlers had to hide in farms all day. Instead of catching the abuser, the system is focused on busting the protest and threatening us," she said. She said there's no point in living by comprising one's self-respect.
President, PM did nothing: Malikkh
Malikkh also stated that they considered returning their awards to President Droupadi Murmu but decided against it because, despite being a woman and only two kilometers away from their protest site, she remained a mute spectator. Returning them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also pointless because, let alone checking on them, he invited the "abuser" to the new Parliament's inauguration ceremony, she asserted.
At least some sportspersons are getting respect: Malikkh on CSK
Earlier on Tuesday, Malikkh congratulated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and its captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on winning the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday night. Compliments poured in for the cricketers, who have so far kept mum as a concerted social media campaign degrades the protesting wrestlers. Notably, the Delhi Police booked the protesting wrestlers under charges of rioting and others on Sunday.
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