Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Protesting wrestlers, demanding the arrest of former RSS president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Tuesday indicated that they may take their agitation to Ramlila Maidan to make it a ‘national movement’. Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia And India’s top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold-winner Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the last 24 days.
Wrestlers are adamant on the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
All of them are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, including a minor. Responding to Bhim Army President Chandrashekhar Azad’s suggestion to take the current campaign to Ramlila Maidan, a bigger venue than Jantar Mantar, and make it a ‘national movement’, Sakshi Malik said that we will discuss among ourselves (Protests at Ramlila Maidan Regarding) and will decide about it soon.
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Sakshi Malik said this
Azad had joined the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar on Monday evening but was asked to leave by the authorities at night. On Tuesday, he returned again with his supporters. He urged the wrestlers to take a decision after May 21 to take their movement to Ramlila Maidan and make it ‘big’. Khap panchayats have set this deadline for the government to take action against Brijbhushan.
Sakshi Malik made allegations
Sakshi, however, did not clarify whether the wrestlers would completely shift the protest venue to Ramlila Maidan or continue the agitation at Jantar Mantar as well. Vinesh said on Monday that the wrestlers felt they were confined and pushed into a corner at Jantar Mantar and would agitate elsewhere. He also alleged that the wrestlers were being followed at the picket site at Jantar Mantar.
Ad-hoc committee takes charge of WFI
An ad-hoc committee constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has taken over the charge of the national federation from WFI officials but wrestler Brij Bhushan is adamant on his demand for arrest. The wrestlers took out a march in Connaught Place on Monday in keeping with their objective of connecting with as many people as possible and making them aware of the alleged harassment at the hands of Brij Bhushan. On Tuesday, they decided to hit the streets of Delhi again by taking out a procession from Jantar Mantar to Hanuman Mandir near Connaught Place.
