Hautetalk: Wrestlers’ Protest Couldn’t Get WFI Chief To Resign. What Will It Take To Investigate Powerful Men?
It's a shame!
The Chief of Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was recently accused of sexual harassment by two women wrestlers. While the WFI chief denied all allegations, no action was taken against him until the top Indian wrestlers organised a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protest began in January 2023 but was called off after the Central Government formed a committee to probe the allegations. However, in April 2023, the protests began again alleging that no action was taken by the authorities.
ये भी इतिहास में दर्ज हो गया कि जिस दिन नई संसद का उद्धघाटन हुआ था, उसी दिन बहन-बेटियों की इज्जत को यूं रौंदा गया था। अब कोई बाप अपनी बेटी को अखाड़े में भेजने से पहले 100 बार सोचेगा। जो चंद मैडल ओलंपिक में आते थे, अब उनके भविष्य पर भी सवालिया निशान लग गया है।#WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/dJ061sOOXV
— Abhimanyu Kohar (@KoharAbhimanyu) May 29, 2023
It took Indian wrestlers weeks of protesting and a petition in the Supreme Court to have the authorities register an FIR and investigate the allegations against BJP leader and WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The protest continues as the wrestlers demand the arrest of the WFI chief and have claimed that the BJP leader is being protected by the ruling party. On the other hand, the victims have already recorded their statements before the magistrate. One is a minor and the other is an adult. These women wrestlers have cited eight incidents of sexual harassment that took place at different times. However, the WFI Chief has denied all allegations and claimed that these allegations are a conspiracy to remove him from Parliament.
तिरंगे का मान बढ़ाने वाले हमारे पहलवानों के साथ ऐसा हृदयहीन बर्ताव।
दिल्ली पुलिस द्वारा पहलवानों पर किया गया बल प्रयोग सरकार की संवेदनहीनता की पराकाष्ठा है।यह न्याय पर प्रहार है, नौजवानों के विश्वास से धोखा है। pic.twitter.com/3GMYmwsOXv
— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) May 28, 2023
Also Read: “Will Take Bullet To The Chest”: Bajrang Punia Slams Ex-IPS Officer For ‘Bullet’ Threat To Protesting Wrestlers
Now here’s the thing. Firstly, despite being top India wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers have to fight for a right as basic as being protected against sexual harassment and getting justice when an incident occurs. They had to approach the Supreme Court for something as simple as having an FIR filed against the man. And as if that wasn’t enough, this man accused of sexual harassment by multiple women continues to hold his position as Wrestling Federation of India chief. Despite police complaints being filed by seven wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, no FIR was filed against him. The question is, why?
सत्ता के मद मे केंद्र सरकार द्वारा पुलिस के माध्यम से आज दिल्ली में हमारे देश की बेटियों के साथ जो बर्ताव किया गया वो निंदनीय है, पुलिस का यह कृत्य लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था का अपमान है ! अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर देश का नाम रोशन करने वाले पहलवानों के साथ किया गया बर्ताव देश का आम- अवाम… pic.twitter.com/4Bx88fS2mZ
— HANUMAN BENIWAL (@hanumanbeniwal) May 28, 2023
यौन शोषण करने वाला गुंडा बृज भूषण आज संसद में बैठा है और हमें सड़क पर घसीटा जा रहा है।
Sad day for Indian sports pic.twitter.com/ckAPmbtl4S— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023
While seven Indian grapplers were fighting for their basic rights (and continue to fight), this man enjoys his male privilege as well as that of being the WFI Chief. No, I’m not saying the man should be arrested just like that but the least the authorities can do is investigate the allegations made against him and remove him from his position during the course of the investigation. Instead, the man continues to head WFI and not one person has blinked an eyelid over it. What will it really take for people to not just talk about the protest and support the Indian wrestlers but also investigate the accused man? What will it take to get the authorities to honestly investigate the case against a powerful man?
सुबह से हिरासत में ली गई महिला पहलवानों और समर्थकों को अब तक रिहा नहीं किया गया है। पुलिस कमिश्नर को पत्र लिख ये माँगें रखी हैं –
1. बृज भूषण की तुरंत गिरफ़्तारी हो
2. सारे पहलवानों को तुरंत रिहा किया जाए #WrestlerProtest pic.twitter.com/NDpztiauLh— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 28, 2023
Also Read: “Itna Nahi Girna Chahiye”: Uorfi Javed Slams Those Sharing Fake Smiling Pics Of Wrestlers Vinesh, Sangeeta Phogat
It’s shocking that these women who won medals for the country had to go to Supreme Court to get the authorities to file an FIR which, BTW, is their fundamental right. Despite all the protests, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is still the WFI Chief which is proof of how this world protects powerful men.
5 People Who Should Have Spoken Up About The Wrestlers’ Protest But Haven’t
