New Delhi: Many film celebrities like Swara Bhasker, Pooja Bhatt and Onir have come out in support of the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers have accused him of sexual harassment.
Swara Bhasker took to Twitter and said it is shameful to see the BJP MP being "consistently shielded by the govt." "Shameful that our top International athletes are forced to protest on streets against sexual harassment but accused BJP MP is being consistently shielded by the govt. #IStandWithMyChampions Sack & investigate #BrijBhushanSharanSingh," she wrote.
Pooja Bhatt criticised Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha, who had said that it is not good for the sports that the wrestlers have gone straight to the streets and they should have shown some discipline.
In her tweet, Pooja wrote, “This is not ‘hitting back’. This is saying things as they are. Plainly, truthfully. In times of lies truth sounds & feels like a gunshot or blow as is obvious from the much abused & overused term ‘hit back’. #IStandWithMyChampions"
Actor Prakash Raj posted: "Dear Supreme leader..you have had your #Selfies.. it’s time for you to be selfless…will you #justasking #IStandWithMyChampions"
Sonu Sood tweeted in Hindi, "the sportspersons of the country will definitely win the battle of wrestling against injustice."
Filmmaker Onir tweeted, #IStandWithMyChampions It’s a shame that there is so much resistance to give justice to so many women athletes. Disrespectful .
Several national award-winning wrestlers have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar since Sunday demanding the government make public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment allegations against Singh, also a BJP MP. Delhi Police on Friday said a FIR will be registered against Singh.
Top wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik first staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in January and accused the WFI boss of sexual exploitation and intimidation. The wrestlers had demanded that WFI be disbanded and its president removed.
The sports ministry had then formed an oversight committee headed by boxing great MC Mary Kom on January 23 and asked it to submit its findings in one month.
Later, it extended the deadline by two weeks and also added Babita Phogat to the probe panel as its sixth member at the insistence of the protesting wrestlers.
(With input from PTI)