Scores of protestors at the wrestlers protest made their agenda clear as they raised chants of Modi teri kabar khudegi
In the s*xual harassment case involving Brij Bhushan Singh, the Delhi Police will lodge a complaint amid wrestlers protest, have a look
Indian wrestlers have accused the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. The Supreme Court heard their pleas on Friday.
At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, medal-winning athletes like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik are protesting.
The Delhi Police had consented to submit a FIR, and the Solicitor General assured the audience during the hearing that it will take place today. Meanwhile, the protest site has now turned political with abhorrent chants of the wrestlers wanting to murder Prime Minister being raised at the protests.
“Modi teri kabar khudegi,” wrestlers protest sees chants wanting to kill PM Modi raised in viral video
Modi teri kabar Khudegi chants at protest.
They are protesting for Justice or has this become completely a poltical campaign? pic.twitter.com/AvATs7h6mM
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) April 28, 2023
“Modi teri kabar Khudegi” slogans raised at Jantar Mantar. Casteist Wrestlers even justified it.
Thanks for coming out openly with your agenda.
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) April 28, 2023
The court asked the Delhi Police to answer on April 22 after the wrestlers alleged that their complaint had not been filed.
On Friday, the Supreme Court deliberated on the wrestlers’ pleas. They have well-known lawyer Kapil Sibal on their side.
A separate task team should conduct the probe, according to Sibal, who noted that an FIR would only involve local police.
The irritated wrestlers have returned to Jantar Mantar to carry on their protest and demand Singh’s arrest.
Punia informed reporters that the athletes are willing to give up their professional careers in order to bring about justice.
He went on to remark that he has total confidence in the Indian legal system and that Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is renowned for consistently upholding the truth.
While their investigation into the allegations is still ongoing, the Indian Olympic Association criticised the wrestlers for going to the streets rather than approaching them.
India’s sports community reacts
With the caption “Will they ever get justice?” Kapil Dev, a former cricketer, uploaded a picture of the wrestlers in protest on Instagram.
Cricket teammate Virender Sehwag also offered his support on Twitter.
Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi slogans at "protest site".
It's just a matter of time, soon you'll see anti Hindu/India slogans as well… Many athletes who used to pose as Hindutva warriors & nationalists are going to expose themselves..
Just wait n watch!! pic.twitter.com/RLuGOrP4dO
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) April 28, 2023
Neeraj Chopra, an Olympian and participant in the track and field events, tweeted a statement in which he described his distress at witnessing Indian athletes demanding justice.
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) April 28, 2023
Chopra is not the only Olympian to publicly support the wrestlers who are protesting. Olympic shooting champion Abhinav Bindra said that he agreed with them and that the incident had really distressed him.
This is not applicable to the entire sporting community, though. On Thursday, IOA President PT Usha condemned the demonstration, saying it was bad for India’s standing.
The former Olympian said, as per CNBC:
There are other ways to put your point across. They could’ve approached the athletes commission. This sets a bad precedent and amounts to indiscipline.”
Punia told the media on Thursday in response to PT Usha’s comments that it takes discipline to earn medals. He went on to say that rather than PT Usha’s power, our power comes from the support of the people.
#WATCH | PT Usha has been our icon. We felt hurt by what she said. I want to ask her – when her academy was being demolished and she had raised her concerns on social media, then was that not tarnishing India's image?: Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia pic.twitter.com/X6P9xumba2
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023
Congressman Shashi Tharoor condemned PT Usha’s comments and claimed that she had overlooked the concerns of the wrestlers who were protesting.
Congressman Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Twitter that he would participate in the protesters’ “satyagraha” on Monday after being recently released from Patiala Jail.
The Aam Aadmi Party ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi are expected to meet with the wrestlers in Delhi today.
Tomorrow at the protest site, Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, will also stop by and talk with them.
Anurag Thakur, a Union Minister, provided clarification on Friday regarding the government’s efforts to accommodate the protesting wrestlers’ requests.
#WATCH | Last time also I met with them (wrestlers). Formed a committee for the investigation. More woman members were included in the committee for the ease of the women wrestlers so that they could share their problems with them without any hesitation. We also asked IOA to form… pic.twitter.com/CZdgc2NMHa
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023