country’s top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia And Sakshi Malik After reaching Haridwar, he sat silently on the banks of the Ganga in protest against Wrestling Federation of India Chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singhwho have been accused of sexual abuse.
(PTI photo)
Hundreds of people surrounded the passionate wrestlers and slogans were raised in their support. Farmer leader Naresh Tikait later reached the protest site, met the wrestlers and persuaded them not to immerse the medals. He also questioned the silence of the government on the matter.
Naresh, demanding a time period of five days, took the medals from the wrestlers as soon as they left the venue and on the banks of river Ganga.
Amidst slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai and Nyay Do’, the Ganga Aarti Committee also urged the wrestler not to use the religious place for protest and politics.
Assuring the support of the wrestlers, National President of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Naresh said that the women wrestlers are his daughters and he will not let them down.
After the protest ended, farmer leader Naresh announced, “The entire Indian government is saving one person (WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh). Tomorrow there will be a khap meeting.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also supported the wrestlers, saying that it was shameful for the country that the wrestlers had to go to Haridwar to immerse their medals in the Ganges in protest against the central government.
BJP MP Brij Bhushan has been accused by wrestlers of sexually harassing several women players.
Sakshi, Vinesh and their cousin Sangeeta were seen trying to be consoled by their husbands while hundreds of their supporters formed a circle around them.
After reaching Har Ki Pauri, the wrestlers stood silently for about 20 minutes. Then he sat down on the bank of the river with his medals and looked distressed.
Bajrang joined them after 40 minutes. Vinesh’s husband Sombir Rathi was holding the Asian Games medals won by his wife. Sakshi clutches the Olympic bronze medal she won in Rio in 2016.
The whole episode is reminiscent of the 1960 incident when the great Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, threw his Olympic gold medal into the Ohio River to protest racial segregation in America.
(ANI photo)
Wrestler Jitendra Kinha, who was part of the protesting group, said, “Khap leaders put their turbans in front of us and told us not to give up hope.”
Har ki Pauri witnessed chaotic scenes as khap and farmer leaders broke human chains of supporters to reach the rioters, even as thousands of devotees, who had gathered on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, reigned supreme as ruckus Looked surprised.
The wrestlers left without speaking to the media.
Several other Khap leaders and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also came out in support of the wrestlers but urged them to exercise restraint.
“The wrestlers have said that they will float their medals in the river Ganga. We request them that these medals are the result of their hard work, sacrifice of their families and support of the society… They should not take this step.”
Khap leader Balwant Nambardar said, “It is unfortunate that people who have represented the country in top international tournaments are forced to take such decisions. The government should have some shame and give them justice.”
After the wrestlers announced that they would surrender their medals, sources in the Sports Ministry said that the trophies and medals also belong to the country.
“The medals won by the wrestlers are not theirs alone but the country’s as they played under the Indian flag and their medals have been won not only by the efforts of the wrestlers but also by their hard work. ” Many people like their coaches, support staff,” a source in the ministry told PTI.
He said that crores of taxpayers’ money has gone into their training.
“Wrestling has spent over 150 crores in the last 5 years to provide the best training, coaching and infrastructure to the wrestlers. They have been sent for foreign training, trained in national camps and trained in national camps to hone their skills. compete at the international level.” And win medals in Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. This money belongs to the taxpayers.”
Can’t protest at India Gate
After being evicted from Jantar Mantar on May 28, the wrestlers have said that they will continue their protest and will be on hunger strike “till death” at India Gate.
However, the Delhi Police said on Tuesday that they would not be allowed to protest at India Gate as it is “a national monument and not a venue for demonstrations”.
Sakshi had said, “India Gate is the place of martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the country. We are not holy like them but our sentiments are similar to those soldiers while playing at the international level.”
He wished that President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the issue.
“We don’t want these medals anymore because by wearing us this shiny system is exploiting us and using it as a mask for its propaganda. If we speak out against this exploitation, it prepares to send us to jail “
On 28 May, Delhi Police detained World Championships bronze winner Vinesh and Olympic medalist Bajrang along with Malik and later filed an FIR against the wrestlers for violation of law and order.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the treatment of wrestlers by Delhi Police has tarnished the image of the country.
He said, “He was badly beaten up and this has tarnished the image of the country globally. I spoke to him this afternoon (Tuesday) and assured him that we are with him and will fully support him. You have made the country proud by winning. You continue your movement.
“My solidarity is with them. I have asked our Sports Minister Arup Biswas to hold a rally from Hazra More to Ravindra Sarovar (in Kolkata) tomorrow to show solidarity with the wrestlers,” he said.
“I cannot speak much about their decision to throw their medals in the Ganga. It is their decision. Women wrestlers were assaulted. No one has been arrested. They have approached the Supreme Court to register an FIR. instructions have not been followed.”
Meanwhile, a stampede-like situation broke out in Haridwar when the wrestlers left with hundreds of their supporters, further worsening the situation.
Roadside shops selling water bottles and souvenirs were damaged as their goods were trampled.
(With inputs from PTI)