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With the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar reaching its 10th day, the wrestlers were keen to put an end to some allegations leveled at them by IBF President Prej Bhushan Charan Singh. The BJP MP from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh has denied the sexual harassment charges against him and has frequently asked, through media interactions, why the protesters have been silent for so long.
Sakshi Malik, a bronze medalist at the Rio Olympics, said it wasn’t the first time wrestlers had approached law enforcement agencies to get an FIR against Brij Bhushan. It alleged that in 2012, about half a dozen junior athletes approached the police in Lucknow to file an FIR against him, but it was hidden due to the influence of the BJP strongman.
In 2012, a national junior camp was organized in Lucknow. The sexual harassment FIR was registered, but within 24 hours the matter was settled and the FIR was gone. “About 5-7 girls had called the police at that time to register an FIR of sexual harassment,” Sakshi said.
The star wrestler said it was not a one-time issue when Brij Bhushan used his influence to evade the law. “In 2014, you may have heard about a doctor (Paramjeet Malik) who was in the national camp and worked with Geeta Phogat. His wife was also a wrestler, and she was in the national camp at that time. When he raised his voice against these things and he talked to other coaches about it In no time, the attending physician and his wrestler wife were removed from the camp and since that day she has not been able to participate in any competition,” he said.
Paramjit told the Indian Express that in February, he appeared twice before the Censorship Committee set up by the Sports Ministry to investigate allegations against Brij Bhushan – first in person, then via video call. He said he recounted the 2014 incident to the committee as well.
“I was the personal physio (world championship medalist) Geeta Phogat in 2014. The trainee wrestlers broke down and told me and the senior wrestlers, including my wife Suman Kondu, about the alleged sexual harassment by Prej Bhushan during the national camp in Lucknow in 2014,” said Paramjit.
Afraid to speak
Sakshi and the other protesting wrestlers said that these alleged incidents made them fear the power and influence of Brij Bhushan. Even though they wanted to speak out, they felt, as young athletes at the time, that it would have prematurely ended their careers.
“This is why we kept silent for so long. We wanted to wrestle and save our careers because we knew how it would end. We didn’t dare to raise our voices at that time but today we have reached a level where we can speak for our fellow athletes,” Sakshi told the media on Tuesday.
The protesting wrestlers were also deeply concerned by the silence of five-time world champion boxer Mary Kom on the issue. Marie headed the Control Commission of the Ministry of Sports. “I think they (PT Ocha and Mary Kom) have forgotten that it is because of sports that they are in power today. They were athletes once, now they are politicians,” said Bajrang Punya, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
Last week, IOA President PT Usha said, during a press interaction, that the protesting wrestlers are tarnishing the country’s image. Not only did the statement draw sharp criticism from various departments, but it also hurt the wrestlers. For Sakshi, who was in love with PT Usha, it was hard to swallow.
“We come from really humble backgrounds and as youngsters we all had this desire in our hearts to meet legends like PT Usha one day. We saw Sachin Tendulkar on our box TVs with water coolers running in the background and asked ourselves if we would have the chance to meet him in person. I would like Just to ask Usha Madam one question: If you are a woman who cannot understand the pain of other women, is your official status worth any value?” Sakshi asked.
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