Why are top Indian wrestlers protesting in Delhi

Athletes are calling for decisive action to be taken against the chief of India's wrestling body, who stands accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers. The athletes are demanding that the matter be handled in a professional manner, with the perpetrator being held accountable for their actions.

Why Indian Wrestler are Protesting In Delhi 

For the past 10 days, prominent Indian wrestlers have been staging protests on the streets of New Delhi, demanding that appropriate action be taken against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the head of the country's wrestling federation. 

Singh, who is also a parliamentarian from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple female athletes. Despite the allegations, Singh has denied any wrongdoing. The athletes are seeking a professional and just resolution to the matter.

Demand behind the Protest of Indian Wrestlers

The athletes who are leading the protests have requested an "immediate arrest" of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and have appealed to the Supreme Court for intervention. As a result, the court has directed the police to register a case against Singh, who is 66 years old.

However, on Wednesday night, the athletes camping at Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, which is in close proximity to parliament, have claimed that they were assaulted by the police. The matter is being viewed with concern, and a professional investigation is expected to take place to determine the veracity of the allegations.

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Bad Behavior by police with Wrestlers

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was among the protesting athletes, spoke to reporters and expressed her anguish over the incident. She explained that due to heavy rains, the area where they were camping was filled with water, and there was no place to sleep. 

Therefore, they decided to bring folding cots to make their stay more comfortable. However, during the process, a male police officer allegedly manhandled and verbally abused them.

Phogat, who was emotional during the press conference, stated that the way they were treated was unacceptable, and she did not wish for any athlete to suffer such mistreatment, even if they were to bring medals for the country. This incident highlights the need for proper handling of such protests and for all parties to remain professional and respectful.

Main Reason Behind the Protest 

On January 18, Olympic bronze medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia led a group of wrestlers in a protest on the streets of New Delhi. The athletes accused Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, along with several coaches from the sport's governing body, of sexually harassing female wrestlers.

Vinesh Phogat, who won a gold medal in women's wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, has publicly stated that both coaches and the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) have been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. In January, Phogat revealed that she personally knows of at least 10 to 20 female athletes who have come forward with their own experiences of sexual harassment at national camps. 

These allegations are being taken seriously, and a thorough investigation will be necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all athletes.

Response of Government regards Protest of indian Wrestlers

Following the allegations of sexual harassment made against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the Indian government had promised to complete an inquiry into the matter within four weeks. Although the inquiry report was completed in April, the findings were not made public.

As a result, protests resumed last week as the police had not filed a formal case against Singh or carried out an inquiry against him. The Supreme Court, which deemed the allegations "serious", had requested an explanation from the police for the lack of action.

This week, the New Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court that they will register a case against Singh. This decision marks a step forward in the investigation, and it is expected that the matter will be handled with the utmost professionalism and impartiality to ensure a fair outcome.

Who is Brijbhushan Sharan Singh

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is a well-known Indian politician and the current president of the Indian Wrestling Federation. Born on January 8, 1957, he currently serves as a Member of Parliament from Kaiserganj, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh has a longstanding association with Indian wrestling and has been instrumental in promoting the sport in the country. 

However, recent allegations of sexual harassment against him have brought his leadership and conduct under scrutiny. The matter is currently under investigation, and Singh has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

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