India’s top wrestlers Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat want to take their protests against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to the global stage. These wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar over the last 23 days, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for allegedly sexually harassing women grapplers, including a minor.
Talking about the next steps in the protest, Vinesh Phogat spoke to the press and expressed that the wrestlers will be aiming to take their protests to the global level and approach Olympians and Olympic medallists around the world to get their support in their effort.
Phogat, “We will make this protest global. We will approach Olympians and Olympic medallists in other countries. We will write to them asking them for their support. Some people tried to disrupt our protest. The last time it happened was when we were bringing our bedding at the protest site (at the start of the agitation).”
She further spoke about how the wrestlers at the protest have been under heavy scrutiny as people have tried to make unsolicited voice recordings and click pictures. She also revealed how strangers would enter wrestlers camp, who weren’t part of the protest.
“We are being stalked. People make recordings and click photos… and when we tell them (to stop), they do not listen. Some unknown people (women) also tried to sleep here (inside the tent put up by wrestlers),” Vinesh said. “Women, whom we don’t know are being sent inside at night… things are being done, which we do not want should happen at the protest site… which bring a bad name and tarnish our fight for truth and justice.”
Further in the press conference, Vinesh Phogat also opened up about how the wrestlers are feeling being pushed into a corner. Phogat also revealed that they have set May 21 as a deadline before they take a drastic step. She said, “We are getting a feeling at Jantar Mantar that we are being restricted and pushed into a corner.”
“So the more we agitate at other places and let the people elsewhere also know, the better. Today we have decided to go to Connaught Place and speak to the people there and seek their support in our fight for justice. We have set May 21 as the deadline (for action against Brij Bhushan). If no decision is taken, then we will take a big call on our agitation after that date,” Vinesh concluded.
