Credit: Twitter
Ace Indian boxer Vijender Singh, in January, joined the wrestlers protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and has been vocal about the status of the protest. On Wednesday, May 3 a scuffle broke out between the wrestlers and the police, and the Olympic bronze medalist expressed his solidarity with the wrestlers.
A few policemen according to Bajrang Punia "attacked them" with batons. Vijender Singh described this as the ‘worst day’ for an Olympic medallist or any other sportsman for that matter.
During the Indian National Congress presser, Vijender said, "If players like Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat who are the country’s pride are treated like this, you can imagine how ordinary people are treated." He further expressed his solidarity with the wrestlers and questioned who cleared the police action. He appealed that all the proceedings and the investigations behind this event should be transparent.
The clash between the police and the wrestlers protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar took place late on Wednesday night. Some wrestlers have received injuries. After the clash, medal-winning wrestlers like Vinesh and Sakshi started crying. According to Delhi Police DCP Pranav Tayal, AAP leader Somnath Bharti reached the dharna site with a bed without permission and this led to the scuffle.
According to the wrestlers, policemen stopped them from going into the dharna site with the bed and policemen attacked them with batons. The wrestlers and many influential people including Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj have sought action.
On Wednesday, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha today met the wrestlers at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, d ays after critisising the #MeToo protest against the federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
