Politicians, advocates show support as wrestlers intensify protest against WFI chief

New Delhi: As the protest by star wrestlers at Jantar Mantar entered day three on Tuesday, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat, leaders from AAP and Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday met agitating wrestlers and voiced support for protesting wrestlers.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, issued notice to the Delhi government and others on a plea by seven women wrestlers alleging non-registration of an FIR on their sexual harassment allegations against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying these are "serious allegations" requiring its consideration.

Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia claimed that seven female wrestlers are being forced to withdraw their police complaint against Singh

With several politicians and farmer organisations in their corner, India's top wrestlers intensified their protest and asserted that they won't leave the protest site until the WFI president, who is facing sexual harassment charges, is arrested.

The wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, alleged that the WFI chief is now resorting to strong arm tactics and trying to break the "victims" by issuing threats and offering bribes. Vinesh claimed that the Delhi police has leaked names of the victims to Brij Bhushan, who is using Haryana Wrestling Association secretary general Rakesh and coach Mahavir Prasad Bishnoi to threaten the families of the women wrestlers, who have filed complaints against the WFI chief.

"Brij Bhushan now knows the names of the complainants. The Delhi police has leaked the names to him. They are issuing threats. They are trying to break the victims and that's why the delay in lodging an FIR," Vinesh told reporters.

"We thought the sports ministry will give us justice but it did not happen. But we have faith in judiciary. If the Supreme Court takes everything related to this case under its wings and we are sure that no game will be played, only then we will leave the protest site. "If just an FIR is lodged, we will not go from here. He has to be put behind the bars. If he remains outside, we won't be safe. How will we train, if he is roaming free," Vinesh said.

Would they be content if the police file an FIR and begins investigation? Vinesh said, "There are hundreds and thousands of FIRs against many people. But it is a question of justice. Only when are sure that we will not be tricked, we will end protest, otherwise we are here." Coach Mahabir Prasad denied the allegations.

Hooda, Udit Raj, another Congress leader and CPI(M)’s Brinda Karat, who was stopped from joining the stir by the wrestlers in January, were welcomed by the wrestlers, a day after they had sought support from all quarters.

Hooda spent about 35 minutes with the wrestlers at the site. While Hooda did not speak, Raj asked the protesting wrestlers to stick to their cause, like the farmers did against the farm laws and said, "You will emerge victorious". The Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) representative also joined the wrestlers' stir. A few kids from Madhya Pradesh offered their piggy bank, containing their  savings, to the wrestlers.

Sibal voiced support for protesting wrestlers, saying that 'Insaaf ke Sipahi' of his newly-launched platform to fight injustice are with them.  This is the second time in over three months that Karat visited the protesting wrestlers who had then said that they did not want to make the agitation against the WFI chief political. When Karat reached the protest site now, the wrestlers apologised to her for the incident which happened last time.

Punia, while thanking them, said, "You have big hearts" and returned the 'gullak'.