The Jantar Mantar wrestlers’ strike continues

The Jantar Mantar wrestlers’ strike continues Bajrang stated that he will not wake up until Brij Bhushan is apprehended; Vinesh stated that the WFI President should undergo a narcotics test.

Wrestlers at Jantar Mantar have been on strike since Sunday afternoon in protest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Seven female wrestlers have also filed a complaint with the Parliament Street police station against Singh.

Wrestlers stated, “It’s been three months, but we haven’t gotten justice, so we’re protesting again.” We demand justice; a FIR has not yet been filed. We were previously told to file a FIR; now we are going to file a FIR, indicating that the police are not listening.

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Vinesh’s claim: Police are refusing to allow food and water into the building.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat claims that the police are not allowing food and water into the building. Wrestlers standing outside are also not permitted inside. Vinesh stated that his health is deteriorating. She had gone out to get medicine, and when she returned, the police barred her entry.

Sakshi Malik, a wrestler, claimed that two days prior, we had filed a complaint with the police. But neither the FIR nor we have yet to be heard from. Seven wrestlers, including a minor, are among the complainants. We have made the decision to go on strike once more after two and a half months of waiting.

We also don’t know if the committees have turned in their inquiry report, according to Sakshi. People began referring to us as liars. The investigation report ought to be made available, but as of right now, nothing is known about it. You all can appreciate how delicate a girl’s issue is.

It has paid off to be patient, Bajrang said.

Our strike will end once Brij Bhushan Singh is taken into custody, according to Bajrang Poonia. Our endurance has been fruitful. There were two committees set up to investigate, but nothing was found. Now, the CBI should look into this case.

Vinesh stated, “Now we will eat and sleep only at night.” The Jantar Mantar

Wrestler According to Vinesh Phogat, the allegations were made by the country’s best players. We are complicit in this exploitation. In three months, neither a member of the committee nor the ministry answered the phone. It has been stated numerous times that the wrestlers have not provided proof. Someone should take Brij Bhushan’s proof of innocence even once. We believe that a narco test should be performed throughout the episode.

Additionally, the CBI should look into the case. Whoever is responsible after this will be. He needs to be disciplined. If that turns out to be incorrect as well, we will also take the punishment. We will only eat and sleep from now on at Jantar Mantar. But only after pursuing justice will they rise. For wrestling alone, we are fighting. We’ll even risk our lives for this. We will pass away at Jantar Mantar, no matter what.

We are receiving threats, according to players

Players claimed that there are numerous threats coming at us. We attempted to file a complaint with the police after more than three months of waiting, but the police officers were unresponsive. What is going on in this situation is unknown. We’ll continue to sit in protest. At Jantar Mantar, we are on strike until our demands are granted.

It should be noted that wrestlers protested against Brij Bhushan Singh at Jantar Mantar in January of this year and levelled grave accusations against him. Two committees were established by the Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry to look into the claims. The committees claimed that the wrestlers who made the claims had not provided any supporting documentation.

The DCW issued a notice.

Chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to the Delhi Police for failing to file a FIR in the case of sexual harassment of female wrestlers. Women wrestlers have told the commission that they filed a written complaint with the Delhi Police two days ago, but their FIR has yet to be registered.

Many female wrestlers from across the nation, according to Swati, have filed complaints of sexual harassment against the WFI President at the Connaught Place Police Station in the past two days. Additionally, one of the complainants is a minor. It is against the law that the Delhi Police has not yet filed a FIR in this case. Police were notified, and a response is due to DCW in 48 hours.

Wrestler demonstration and major allegations at Jantar Mantar

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia began a sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on January 18. During this, Vinesh Phogat sobbed and accused Federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the coach of sexually harassing female wrestlers at the National Camp.

Brij Bhushan, according to Vinesh, used to stay in the players’ hotel, which is against the rules. Following my defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president referred to me as a “fake coin.”

MP’s explanation: I will be hanged if the accusations are true.

On the same day, Sangh President Brij Bhushan spoke up. There hasn’t been any sort of harassment, he claimed. I’ll hang myself if it has happened. He identified Deepender Hooda, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Haryana Congress, as the sponsor of the dharna. He had claimed that these players are no longer qualified to compete even on a national level.

After speaking with the Union Sports Minister, picketing will take place.

The wrestlers and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur spoke for between a quarter and four hours on January 19. He was instructed to hold off until the Wrestling Federation President responded. The WFI president was to be fired, according to the wrestlers. After speaking with the sports minister on January 20, the players once more began a sit-in at Jantar Mantar.

The protesting athletes then declared that they would not join any camp until justice was done. He won’t take part in any sporting events either. He will now fight for the rights of athletes.

As the movement gained momentum, two inquiry committees were established.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) established an investigation committee on January 21 to assess the expanding movement. Mary Kom was appointed as the committee’s chairman by its chairman, PT Usha. The task of conducting an investigation was delegated to a 7-person committee. This committee also included two attorneys, badminton player Alaknanda Ashok, freestyle wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, boxer Mary Kom, archer Dola Banerjee, president of the Indian Weightlifting Federation Sahdev Yadav, and two other athletes.

Anurag Thakur met with the wrestlers that day for seven hours at a late hour. The Sports Ministry made the decision to create an oversight committee during this time. It also elected MC Mary Kom as president. Yogeshwar Dutt, an Olympian in wrestling, Trupti Murgunde, Rajagopalan, CEO of TOPS, and Radha Sriman were among its members. Babita Phogat was later added to it.