Hurt by the boorish behaviour of the Delhi Police, protesting wrestlers on Thursday threatened to return their medals and awards together with the Padma Shri to the federal government, saying these honours serve no objective if they’ve to endure such humiliation.
Around 11 pm on Wednesday, a scuffle broke out when the wrestlers had been bringing in folding beds for sleeping and the on-duty police personnel started enquiring about that as guidelines don’t allow bringing in such issues on the protest website.
Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had claimed that they had been abused and pushed by male law enforcement officials, leaving them in tears.
Two wrestlers, together with Sangeeta Phogat’s brother Dushyant, suffered accidents.
“If that is how the wrestlers will probably be handled, what is going to we do with the medals? Rather we’ll reside an bizarre life and return all of the medals and awards to the Indian authorities,” Bajrang, an Olympic bronze medallist, advised reporters on Thursday morning.
Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang are all winners of Khel Ratna, country’s highest sporting honour. Skashi (2017) and Bajrang (2019) are also recipients of the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour.
“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 mentioned referring to the Rio Olympics bronze medallist.
“They are misbehaving with us. Women and daughters are sitting on the streets, begging for kindness however nobody is concerned about getting justice.”
The wrestlers resumed their protest on April 23, demanding the arrest of WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven women grapplers including a minor.
The matter is Supreme Court and two FIRs have also been lodged by the Delhi police against the WFI chief, who has denied all charges and claimed that the protest was politically motivated.
“Take it (medals) all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect but we are being crushing under their feet. Does all men have the right to abuse women?,” mentioned Vinesh, who obtained Khel Ratna in 2020.
“We will return all our medals, even give our life however not less than get us justice,” she added.
The scuffle broke out when the protesters were trying to get extra mattresses and wooden benches to the protest site for their night stay since rain had left old mattresses wet and soggy.
“The policeman started pushing me, shoving me and pulling my hand. He also abused me. There was no women constable at that time. He was aggressive. There was another policeman who was drunk,” Vinesh mentioned.
Delhi Police has claimed that AAP chief Somnath Bharti had introduced the folding beds.
“We had ordered for the beds and not Somnath Bharati. And even when he had introduced it, don’t we even have the correct to sleep. Were we committing against the law by bringing beds, was there a bomb or weapons? Their (Delhi Police) behaviour was very aggressive,” Vinesh added.
Bajrang said, “I want to know why everything is being related to politics, sometimes Aam Aadmi party, Congress, sometimes BJP. The matter is related to women, but the nation is being misled by associating it with political parties.”
“The Police is favouring Brij Bhushan. We are being abused after the FIR was lodged. Wrestlers are being divided on the premise of caste.”
“I just want to request the govenment if you can rise above politics and give justice to protesting wrestlers then the entire country will be grateful to you.”
Asked if the protest has been hijacked by political events, Vinesh mentioned, “Listen, if that is political, please get the Prime Minister to speak to us. Ask the house minister to name us. Get us justice. We are placing our careers and our lives at stake,” she said with folded hands.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal was also sitting with the protesting wrestlers.
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