Wrestlers’ Protest 2023: Protesters Resume Work a Day After Meeting with Amit Shah and Anurag Thakur
After Indian champions were on the verge of immersing their medals in River Ganga, here’s everything you need to know about the ongoing Wrestlers’ Protest in India
Disappointed by the lack of efforts shown by the government, the unusual behaviour of the Delhi Police and the removal from their Jantar Mantar protest site on May 28, the wrestlers protesting for around 45 days had decided to immerse their hard-earned medals in Ganga at Haridwar and sit on a hunger strike “until death” at the India Gate. On the same day, the prime accused e President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, “If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment”.
On Saturday, the wrestlers took a step forward. Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, wrestlers who competed in the Olympics, met Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in the national Capital. They demanded an early chargesheet against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment. According to media reports, he said, “Law remains the same for everyone”. This comes after they met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur who ensured and assured a fair probe into the matter.
Bajrang Punia announced on Sunday, “We will hold one Mahapanchayat and give a call for that. We will decide the venue. We want to bring everyone together for that Panchayat, we don’t want us to be divided”. They will announce Panchayat soon.
In a letter dated May 31, Malik approved the conduct of Railways inter-divisional championships in cricket (men), badminton (men), weightlifting, basketball (men), volleyball (men), kabaddi (men), wrestling, boxing (men), athletics (men), and hockey (men). Malik signed the letter in her capacity as Officer on Special Duty (OSD). This comes with them taking leaves for more than 45 days.
