Wrestlers Sangeeta Phogat and Vinesh Phogat react after a scuffle allegedly broke out between protesting wrestlers and the police at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on May 3, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Hurt by the “boorish behaviour of the Delhi Police”, protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on May 4 provided to return their medals and awards to the federal government, saying these honours are of no use if they’re being subjected to such humiliation.
The wrestlers have been sitting on a protest within the nationwide capital since April 23, demanding the arrest of WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven wrestlers together with a minor.
Around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers after they have been bringing in folding beds for his or her night time keep and the on-duty police personnel who allegedly started enquiring about that.
“If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? Rather we will live a normal life and return all the medals and awards to the Indian Government,” Bajrang, an Olympic bronze medallist, instructed reporters on Thursday morning.
“When police is pushing us, abusing us, misbehaving then they don’t see that we are Padma Shri awardee, and not only me, there is Sakshi [Malik] also,” he stated referring to the Rio Olympics bronze medallist.
“They are misbehaving with us. Women and daughters are sitting on the streets, begging for kindness but no one is bothered about getting justice.”
There was heavy safety on the Jantar Mantar website following final night time’s ruckus between the wrestlers and a couple of Delhi police personnel, main to accidents to two protesters.
“Take it [medals] all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect but being crushed under their feet. Does all men have the right to abuse women?” stated Vinesh, who’s Khel Ratna awardee.
“We will return all our medals, even give our life but at least get us justice.”
‘BJP’s therapy of wrestlers shameful’
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi condemned the “manhandling” of protesting girls wrestlers as shameful and accused the BJP of by no means shying away from committing atrocities on the daughters of the nation.
He additionally dubbed the BJP’s slogan of “Beti Bachao” as mere hypocrisy. “Such behaviour with the players of the country is shameful,” the previous Congress president stated.
“’Beti Bachao’ is just hypocrisy. In fact, the BJP has never shied away from committing atrocities on the daughters of the country,” Mr. Gandhi stated in a tweet in Hindi whereas sharing a video of the gamers by which they’re accusing the police of beating them up.
Meanwhile, slamming the BJP over the scuffle, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal known as its therapy of nationwide sportspersons shameful and boastful.
Mr. Kejriwal in a tweet in Hindi stated that vanity has gone to the pinnacle of the BJP and it wished to run the system by means of “hooliganism” as he known as on individuals to throw it out of energy.
A scuffle broke out late Wednesday night time between the wrestlers staging a protest at Jantar Mantar and some policemen, main to a few protesters getting injured.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti and Congress chief Deepender Hooda have been among the many individuals who have been detained after the incident, in accordance to police.
In a video that circulated on social media, among the protesters have been seen accusing a policeman of attacking two wrestlers in a drunken state.
