Thrissur: In Kerala’s Wayanad constituency — which is all set to witness a high-stakes battle during the Lok Sabha elections — wrestler Sakshee Malikkh has thrown her support behind Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Annie Raja.
Malikkh, who extended her support through a video message released Sunday, was part of a months-long protest demanding an investigation into the alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sitting MP from Kaiserganj.
In the video, the Olympic medalist said that Annie Raja had supported the wrestlers during their protest in Delhi. The video was shared by the official social media page of the CPI, the second-largest coalition partner in Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front, and Annie Raja.
“I am Sakshee Malikkh. I know Annie Raja personally. Annie Raja helped us a lot in April last year when we were protesting against the sexual harassment of women by then-WFI president Brij Bhushan. When Delhi Police attacked and arrested us, she stood with us and got arrested too. She is still struggling with us against the sexual assault in WFI,” said Malikkh, who retired from wrestling in protest after Bhushan’s close aide was selected as the WFI president in December last year.
The protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against Bhushan began in January 2023 when wrestlers, including Malikkh, demanded his arrest and dissolution of the WFI.
While it was temporarily called off after an inquiry committee was formed to look into the allegation of sexual harassment complaints, the wrestlers resumed their protests in April, demanding that the report by the committee be made public.
The protest, which got support from Opposition parties, also turned violent at times during police intervention.
Annie Raja, who supported the protesters, had also repeatedly condemned the government’s silence over the issue.
Several women’s organisations, including the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), the women’s wing of the CPI, had also issued an open statement seeking action into the allegation in December. Annie is the general secretary of the NFIW.
Last week, victims of the alleged atrocities perpetrated by the Joint Special Task Force (JSTF) established to apprehend smuggler Veerappan in Tamil Nadu’s Sathyamangalam forest also rallied in support of Annie across various segments of the constituency.
“My name is Chinnaponnu. I am from Tamil Nadu’s Salem district. We were affected during the hunt for sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. We were scared and didn’t have anyone to support us. We had to start a case, but for that, we had to go to Delhi. And the only one there to help us was our Annie Raja Amma,” one of the victims said, asking the people of Wayanad to vote for Annie Raja. The video message of the victim was shared on Annie’s Facebook page.
“Seven of us went to Delhi first after collecting her number. Annie Raja Amma welcomed us, gave us all the respect, and even gave us food. We hope that she will win,” said Chinnaponnu.
The JSTF, established by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments in 1992 to capture Veerappan, faced allegations of widespread harassment by villagers and tribals in the border areas of both states.
Subsequently, an inquiry panel led by former Karnataka High Court judge A.J. Sadashiva was constituted, and based on the panel report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) announced an interim relief of Rs 2.80 crore to the 89 victims of the atrocities on January 15, 2007.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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