New Delhi: Wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar broke into joyful slogans, welcoming the Delhi Police’s submission in the Supreme Court that it has decided to lodge an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. But the fight, they say, is far from over.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Delhi police, Friday told a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that the police had decided to register an FIR against Singh, also the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from UP’s Kaiserganj, on the basis of allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by at least seven women wrestlers.
The top court, while urging the police to ensure the safety of the one minor complainant in the case, said it will convene on 4 May next to review the status of the investigation.
Addressing a press conference at Jantar Mantar later in the day, wrestler Sakshi Malik, an Olympic bronze medallist, demanded that the Delhi police must put Singh behind bars without wasting any more time.
Adding to this, wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, “A lot of celebrities have tweeted in support (of the protest) but my appeal still remains the same.”
“If you wish to save sports in the country, you have to free it from the clutches of such people (like Singh). Not just wrestling, but for all sports. If you have to save the future of sports in the country, we have to come together and be unified in this struggle. There are many in these sports who cannot speak up or are forbidden to, you can be the voice of these people and save the future of sports,” she said.
The World Championship medallist added that athletes demanding action against Singh have “provided a lot of evidence earlier” and will present further evidence before the Supreme Court and not before any committee.
“Our fight is not limited to the FIR. We would have gotten the FIR done sooner or later. Our fight is to punish this man (Singh). He already has 82 pending cases against him. If that did no harm to him, what would two FIRs do? We want to see him behind bars,” she said.
Malik and Phogat, along with dozens of other athletes including wrestler Bajrang Punia, have been camped at Jantar Mantar since Sunday to draw attention to the alleged inaction against Singh. They sleep in tents, make use of the toilets at the Janata Dal (United) office nearby and go about with their training routine at the now-nicknamed ‘Jantar Mantar Stadium’.
Aspiring wrestlers inspired by the likes of Phogat and Malik flock to the protest site in large numbers, waiting for their turn to train with their heroes. The site is seeing supporters aged from 9 to 50.
‘Wrestlers had supported us during farmers’ stir’
A massive crowd of supporters, including sarpanches of various khap panchayats, gathered at Jantar Mantar Friday in support of the wrestlers. Many compared the protest to that of the year-long farmers’ stir against the central government’s now-withdrawn three farm laws.
“He (Singh) threatens our daughter-in-law (Vinesh Phogat) saying that she’ll be travelling via road to Lucknow which might lead to a (pre-planned) mishap. I challenge him openly, all of us will drive alongside her. Come and face us,” said Naresh Tikait, head of UP’s Baliyan Khap, addressing the gathering.
“These are our daughters, our pride, the ones that not only bring us laurels but also make India shine on the international stage. Our daughters are not for wolves to feed on. The people had made the government kneel in Delhi during farmers’ protest. We will do the same again if needed,” he added.
Om Prakash Kandela, the head of Jind’s Kandela khap, said the wrestlers belong to the entire nation and that a ‘pehalwan‘ has no caste or religion.
“Wrestlers had supported us during the farmers’ agitation, and now the farming community stands in solidarity with them,” said one, associated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella outfit of farmers’ unions.
Meanwhile, wrestlers at Jantar Mantar took exception to remarks made by athlete-turned-Rajya Sabha MP P.T. Usha — head of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) — who Thursday called for protesters to be ‘disciplined’ and said the demonstration did not bode well for India’s image.
“We are not on the streets, we are on Indian soil. It is our democratic right to protest. If you feel it is indiscipline or insulting, why don’t you come here and solve our problems?” Vinesh Phogat had asked in response to Usha’s comment.
Phogat further alleged that the Oversight Committee formed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in January this year had tried to shield Singh. “They (committee) did not show what was true. They hid whatever evidence we presented to them. Now, we trust no one but the Supreme Court. I’m sure it will take a fair decision and we will abide by it,” she said.
Addressing the press conference Friday, Punia said protesters “tried to call (Union minister) Anurag Thakur a few times but he did not pick up” and that his secretary would say he was busy. Punia further contested Thakur’s claim that he met the players and heard their concerns for “12 hours”.
“As far as the committee formation goes and the claim that it comprises women, what good is it? The committee leaked all sources and said the players did not provide evidence. If that was the case, on what basis did the Supreme Court direct the Delhi Police to file an FIR? We don’t trust the police or any committee anymore. No one approached us,” he added.
Vinesh Phogat added that one of the members of the committee, Radhica Sreeman, wrote an article in which she said that only one woman had lodged a complaint. “Even if that was the case, an FIR should have been filed but it wasn’t. Only when he (Singh) is behind bars, an inquiry is initiated and he is removed from all posts, will we end our protests,” she added.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)