Sexual harassment cloud: Protesters seek support of parties and khaps, ask PM to intervene

IN THEIR renewed protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, top wrestlers, who spent Sunday night at Jantar Mantar, sought the intervention of Prime Miner Narendra Modi on Monday. And, in a departure from their earlier stand, they also rallied for support from political parties, farmers’ organisations, women’s organisations and khaps.
During their protest in January, the wrestlers had urged parties not to give their protest a political colour after senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat sought to show support.
“Everyone is welcome this time, be it BJP, Congress or Aam Aadmi Party. When we win medals, we don’t fly any party’s flag – it’s about the Tricolour. We don’t belong to any party either; we belong to the country,” said Tokyo Olympics bronze medall Bajrang Punia.

Seeking Modi’s intervention, he said: “When players win medals, you stand with them. When they are on the road, then you are silent.”
The wrestlers have demanded that an FIR be regered against Brij Bhushan following their police complaint last Friday, in which they accused him of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. A wrestler said Brij Bhushan should be arrested under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, stating that one of the complainants is a minor.

Rio Olympics medall Sakshi Malik alleged that Brij Bhushan was “getting advantage because he is from the BJP”. “He has the power of money, (but) we have the power of truth,” she said.
“We are on the front foot. We are at God’s mercy, but we want to protect young wrestlers,” said World Championship medall Vinesh Phogat. “Podium se footpath tak (Podium to footpath),” she tweeted, adding that they spent the night under the open skies in the “hope of getting justice”.
The trio, who are leading the protest against Brij Bhushan, said they would not leave the protest site until their demands are met. They called on farmers’ organisations, women’s organisation and khaps to support them.

The wrestlers also urged the government to disclose the findings of the oversight committee headed boxer M C Mary Kom, that was set up to look into their allegations against Brij Bhushan.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sakshi Malik said ending their protest in January after receiving assurances from the government was a “make”. “A committee was formed and we were given multiple assurances. We waited for months for the report, and not a single demand was fulfilled. Seven girls have sexual harassment cases against Brij Bhushan, still no action has been taken,” she said.
“The oversight committee was always biased against us,” alleged Vinesh Phogat. Asked if they had submitted the names of the wrestlers who were allegedly sexually harassed Brij Bhushan or provided any evidence to the committee, she replied: “Only the Supreme Court will get to know the identity of the victims, not Brij Bhushan. I can give you an example. Brij Bhushan had called a woman wrestler to his room and tried to impose himself on her, is this not sexual harassment?”