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Last updated: May 06, 2023, 00:34 IST
Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Phogat Phogat and Bajrang Puniya speak to the media during their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Thursday, May 4, 2023 (PTI Photo)
With Delhi Police blocking more wrestlers from entering the protest site, only a few farmers have made it to Jantar Mantar to offer their support.
The protesting wrestlers are still pondering their next move after the Supreme Court closed their petition proceedings even as Sports Minister Anurag Thakur told them to believe in the system, saying an investigation would make everything crystal clear.
With the Delhi Police preventing more wrestlers from entering the protest site, only a few farmers were able to reach Jantar Mantar to offer their support to the affected wrestlers.
The usual fervor was missing as the protest entered the 13th even though the political leaders and farmers continued to visit the gladiators. Congress leaders Kumari Silga, Kiran Chaudhry and Anil Kumar gave their support to the conflict.
Our legal team and mentors are still discussing the next step. “We’ll let you know as soon as we finish something,” Olympic medalist Bajrang Punya told PTI.
Wrestlers have the option of moving to a lower court or the Delhi High Court if they are not satisfied with the police investigation into sexual harassment charges against outgoing Indian Wrestling Federation president Brijbhushan Charan Singh.
The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the wrestlers’ petition proceedings, saying the prayer for the FIR had been answered. The wrestlers said the Supreme Court order was not a setback for them.
Delhi Police has registered two FIRs, one of which is in the POCSO Act, against Singh.
The police also recorded statements of five wrestlers, including the minor.
“It is my request to all the athletes who are active there that whatever their demands are, they are met. “It is my request to all the athletes who are active there,” Thakur said in Lucknow on the sidelines of the Khelo India event.
“Delhi Police will do ‘dood ka dood pani ka pani’ and take strict action as per the law,” he added.
The wrestlers, who allege the police misbehaved with them on Wednesday night, threatened to return awards the government had given them in the past.
Famous wrestling coach Mahvir Phogat, uncle of Finch Phogat, who was the face of the protest, also made a similar threat.
He is a Dronacharya Laureate, having received the honor in 2016.
“I will return my medals if justice is not served in this case,” said Fugate.
Phogat, who joined the BJP more than three years ago, added, “The kind of allegations he (Women’s Union President) is facing, action should be taken against him and he should be arrested.”
When asked if he had spoken to any senior government official or raised the matter at the party level, he said, “No, there has been no talk yet.” On Thursday, many of the Muslim Brotherhood organized protests including in Hisar, Bewani, Jind and Rotak, to express their solidarity with the wrestlers and demand justice for them.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly said he did not wish to comment on the issue, as he had “no complete knowledge” of it.
Let them fight their battle. That’s what it is. I really don’t know what’s going on there. Obviously I read in the papers and I realized one thing in the world of sports is that you don’t talk about things that you don’t have complete knowledge about,” said Ganguly.
“So, I hope it will be resolved. The wrestlers won many medals and brought honors to the country. I hope it will be resolved,” added the former president of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is republished from a syndicated news agency feed.)
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