Wrestlers’ protest: Rain reduces flow of visitors but stir going strong
Late at night on Sunday, when protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh had completed a week, Bajrang Punia took the mic in pouring rain and made an appeal. He asked the supporters outside the core group of wrestlers who were planning to spend the night at the agitation site at Jantar Mantar to leave, saying that he acknowledged their support but it would be the core group of wrestlers who would continue the protest through the night in the rain.
That night and later on Monday, due to several bouts of subdued rain, the protest area wore a new look. The mattresses that were placed on the road, on which the numerous supporters, friends and families of the wrestlers were seated, were removed and stacked up under shade. A makeshift cover was made using ropes and tarpaulin sheets under which the wrestlers would rest. Their day still had much of the same routine, lening patiently to politicians’ speeches, meeting and greeting supporters and fans, obliging selfie and picture requests, and engaging in cordial small talk.
The wrestlers – Bajrang is joined Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, among others, at Jantar Mantar – would be undeterred the rain, but the large number of supporters that were seen throughout the week dwindled due to the rain. The high-profile supporters, TV crews and cameras, and police personnel would all see a substantial decrease on Monday.
The ongoing protests have seen a lot of participation from various sections of society – from major political parties, local panchayats, and especially farmers unions and khap leaders. But on Monday, barring the visit of a few high-profile politicians, whose presence caused a minor stir among the media contingent and the group of supporters, their participation was not found in great numbers.
The wrestlers have been out on the streets again after a brief protest in January, which they concluded after the sports minry set up an Oversight Committee (OC) to look into the allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Brijbhushan, and suspended the federation. They have returned after a delay in the submission of the OC’s report, a loss of faith in the panel, and lack of action in the three months.
The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against Brijbhushan on Friday – one pertained to allegations of a minor wrestler and was regered under the POCSO Act, and the second on the complaints of the women wrestlers. The wrestlers have, however, vowed to keep the protests alive until he is either sent to jail or the investigation is completed, leaving the endgame of this stir uncertain. The next court hearing will be on May 5.
