'Dangal' for justice: Protesting wrestlers’ march to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara with banners against WFI chief

Justice for wrestlers’: As the wrestlers’ protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh entered Day 25,  protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and others marched from Jantar Mantar to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi.    

Grapplers including Punia, Sakshi, Vinesh and others joined the march demanding the arrest of the WFI chief charged with sexual harassment of athletes.

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While addressing media, Vinesh Phogat said, "We will take this protest at the international level. We will write letters to international Olympians and ask them to write letters in our support.”

Rio Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik also stressed this point and said that she feels their protest is being confined to Jantar Mantar.

"We will step outside of Jantar Mantar. We feel that our protest is being confined. We want our protest to reach everybody because this is a fight for the women of our country," Sakshi Malik told the media.

In a first step to bringing the protest outside the Jantar Mantar, they "will go to Connaught Place," Vinesh added.

Meanwhile,  the Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur told the reporters in Hamirpur on Monday, "The committee was formed, and their concerns were also heard. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to start the day-to-day working of the Wrestling Federation by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Trials have also started for athletes."

He added, "Supreme Court has given its judgement. Delhi Police has also registered an FIR and is recording statements. The magistrate is also registering statements. They must have faith in our law and order and end their protest."

The Case 

In January, several wrestlers held a silent protest at Jantar Mantar and met representatives of the Union Sports Ministry to seek action against the WFI chief.  They sought the sacking of the WFI chief. They also sought to dissolve the entire wrestling federation. However, the sports ministry told them that in accordance with the Olympic Charter, "there is a procedure for dissolving any organisation that must be followed". 

 Taking on the Centre, the protesting wrestlers said how long it would take the government committee to submit its report. It had already been months. 

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- With inputs from agencies

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