Wrestlers’ issue facilitates Opposition unity

The police scuffle with protesting wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar
yesterday’s night is slowly turning into a pan-India issue as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Stalin have joinds hands to support wrestlers’cause.This assumes significance just ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls where both the BJP and the Congress are trying hard to woo the voters.The state assembly polls in the sourthern state is crucial for one and all before the Lok Sabha polls of 2024. Three months ago, prominent wrestlers had come forward to lead a protest against the WFI chief, following which the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an ‘oversight committee’ to probe allegations against the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and some coaches. However, On April 23, Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar.
They claimed that six women wrestlers, and a minor, filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Connaught Place Police Station but Delhi Police did not register an FIR. The protesting grapplers also wanted the Ministry to make public the findings of the Oversight Committee.
Seven days into protest, police registered two FIRs against WFI president Singh over allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation of women wrestlers by him. “The wrestlers should have taken this step three months ago. FIR has been registered, now the wrestlers should focus on their practice.
Even the Prime Minister does not have the right to punish, only the court does,” Yogeshwar Dutt said. The protesting wrestlers have made it clear that they won’t move until they get justice and Brij Bhushan be removed as the WFI chief and put behind bars.