A group of wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since April 23 to demand the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, including a minor.
The protesters, who include Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, have been camping at Jantar Mantar since the beginning of the protest. They have been demanding that Singh be arrested and that the WFI be dissolved.
The protest has received widespread support from the sports community. Several sportspersons, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Sania Mirza, have come out in support of the protesters.
The government has so far refused to intervene in the matter. The Home Ministry has said that it is a matter for the Delhi Police to handle.
The Delhi Police have said that they are investigating the allegations against Singh. However, they have not yet made any arrests.
The protesters have vowed to continue their protest until Singh is arrested. They have also threatened to boycott the Commonwealth Games if Singh is not removed from his position.
The protest has brought to light the issue of sexual harassment in sports. It has also raised questions about the role of the WFI in protecting its athletes.
The WFI has been accused of turning a blind eye to the allegations against Singh. The federation has also been accused of mismanaging funds and of corruption.
The protest has put pressure on the government to take action against Singh and the WFI. It remains to be seen whether the government will act on the demands of the protesters.
Background
The allegations against Singh first surfaced in March 2023. Seven female wrestlers, including a minor, accused Singh of sexually harassing them. The wrestlers alleged that Singh had touched them inappropriately and made lewd comments.
The wrestlers filed a complaint with the Delhi Police. The police registered an FIR against Singh under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with sexual harassment.
Singh has denied the allegations against him. He has said that the wrestlers are making false allegations against him because he did not select them for the national team.
The Protest
The wrestlers who have accused Singh of sexual harassment have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have been demanding that Singh be arrested and that the WFI be dissolved.
The protest has received widespread support from the sports community. Several sportspersons, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Sania Mirza, have come out in support of the protesters.
The government has so far refused to intervene in the matter. The Home Ministry has said that it is a matter for the Delhi Police to handle.
The Delhi Police have said that they are investigating the allegations against Singh. However, they have not yet made any arrests.
The protesters have vowed to continue their protest until Singh is arrested. They have also threatened to boycott the Commonwealth Games if Singh is not removed from his position.
The Impact of the Protest
The protest has brought to light the issue of sexual harassment in sports. It has also raised questions about the role of the WFI in protecting its athletes.
The WFI has been accused of turning a blind eye to the allegations against Singh. The federation has also been accused of mismanaging funds and of corruption.
The protest has put pressure on the government to take action against Singh and the WFI. It remains to be seen whether the government will act on the demands of the protesters.
Conclusion
The protest by the wrestlers who have accused Singh of sexual harassment is a significant development. It has brought to light the issue of sexual harassment in sports and has put pressure on the government to take action.
It remains to be seen whether the government will act on the demands of the protesters. However, the protest has already had a significant impact on the issue of sexual harassment in sports. It has raised awareness of the issue and has shown that athletes are willing to stand up for their rights.
Leave a comment