Wrestlers’ Protest Intensifies As They Declare Hunger Strike, Say “Will Drop Medals In Ganga”
They plan to fast unto death!
May 28 will go down as a dark day in the history of our country as top Indian wrestlers, who were protesting in Delhi demanding the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, were detained by the authorities and an FIR was filed against them after they attempted to take the protest to the new Parliament building during its inauguration. Shocking pictures of leading wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and several others being held by the police surfaced on the internet following the incident. As a result, the protesting wrestlers have now declared that they will be dropping the medals they have won for the country in the Ganga in Haridwar on May 30 after which they will go on hunger strike at India Gate in Delhi.
सभी देशवासी जिन्होंने अब तक साथ दिया उनका दिल से आभार। हमारा आंदोलन अभी ख़त्म नहीं हुआ है। इंसाफ़ की लड़ाई में हार मानने वाले नहीं हैं। जल्द आंदोलन का अगला प्लान आपको बताएँगे। pic.twitter.com/3LcHiBIHU8
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 29, 2023
In an official statement shared by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Twitter, the Indian grapplers alleged that not only were they brutally arrested during their peaceful protest but their protest was also vandalised by the authorities and they were banned from going anywhere near Jantar Mantar where they have been protesting for weeks now. The Indian wrestlers went on to question if they have done anything wrong by demanding justice for the sexual harassment that took place. Further, they alleged that the authorities are treating them like criminals while the WFI chief launches attacks on them. The wrestlers also claimed that WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is making a mockery out of them with the statement he’s making on national television while pointing out how the BJP leader has been speaking of changing the POCSO act.
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 30, 2023
Also Read: Hautetalk: Wrestlers’ Protest Couldn’t Get WFI Chief To Resign. What Will It Take To Investigate Powerful Men?
Speaking about their protest and medals, the Indian grapplers said that they are being intimidated by the oppressors to end their protest and they feel like they have nothing left in the country while adding that they have been thinking about parting with the medals that they have won. They added that the medals seem to have no meaning left while adding that the idea of parting with their wins makes them want to die but they have nothing left to live for as they have been stripped of their self-respect.
दरिया अब तेरी ख़ैर नहीं,
बूँदो ने बग़ावत कर ली है
नादां ना समझ रे बुज़दिल,
लहरों ने बग़ावत कर ली है,
हम परवाने हैं मौत समाँ,
मरने का किसको ख़ौफ़ यहाँ
रे तलवार तुझे झुकना होगा,
गर्दन ने बग़ावत कर ली है॥ pic.twitter.com/a5AYDkjCBu— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) May 29, 2023
Calling their medals everything, the Indian wrestlers said that once the medals are washed away in the Ganges, they will have nothing left to live for and therefore, they will sit on a hunger strike at the India Gate. The wrestlers plan to fast to death if need be after dropping their medals in the Ganga at Haridwar at 6 pm on May 30.
ये IPS ऑफिसर हमें गोली मारने की बात कर रहा है। भाई सामने खड़े हैं, बता कहाँ आना है गोली खाने… क़सम है पीठ नहीं दिखाएँगे, सीने पे खाएँगे तेरी गोली। यो ही रह गया है अब हमारे साथ करना तो यो भी सही। https://t.co/jgZofGj5QC
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 29, 2023
Also Read: “Had Sleepless Night,” Indian Shooter Abhinav Bindra On The Appalling Images From Wrestlers’ Protest
It’s shocking that the top Indian wrestlers have to go this far to demand justice and an honest probe into the sexual harassment allegations levelled against the WFI chief by 7 women wrestlers while the BJP leader continues to hold the position despite the allegations and the FIRs against him.
