West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her strong condemnation regarding the treatment of protesting wrestlers by the Delhi police. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and others were detained by the police on Sunday as they attempted to march towards the new Parliament building in order to stage a demonstration. Banerjee took to Twitter to express her disapproval, stating that she strongly condemns the manner in which Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and other wrestlers were manhandled by the Delhi Police. She expressed her disappointment that such treatment was inflicted upon the champions.
“Democracy lies in tolerance but autocratic forces thrive on intolerance and quelling of dissent. I demand they be immediately released by police. I stand by our wrestlers,” said the Chief Minister in her tweet.
The wrestlers had announced that they planned to hold a women’s Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament as part of their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan who has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Seven women wrestlers have filed a police complaint against him.Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building to the nation on Sunday morning. After performing puja, PM Modi installed the sacred ‘Sengol’ in the new Lok Sabha chamber, right next to the Speaker’s chair.