New Delhi: Leaders of the Opposition parties on Sunday criticised the Delhi Police for manhandling and detaining the protesting wrestlers including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik from the protest site, Jantar Mantar, as they tried to march towards the new Parliament building.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemed the incident and demanded that the wrestlers be immediately released by the police. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said such behaviour by the police is very wrong and condemnable.
The wrestlers, who have been seeking the removal of Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing female grapplers, were trying to march towards the new Parliament as they wanted to hold a women's Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament.
Banerjee took to Twitter and wrote, "Strongly condemn the way Delhi Police manhandled Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers. It’s shameful our champions are treated in this manner. Democracy lies in tolerance but autocratic forces thrive on intolerance and quelling of dissent. I demand they be immediately released by police. I stand by our wrestlers."
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "Such behavior towards our players, who contribute to enhancing the pride of our nation, is extremely wrong and condemnable."
Hitting out at the BJP-led government, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, "World champions. India’s daughters. Fighting for their honour. The MP continues to be protected. The GoI shames itself."
TMC leader Saket Gokhale slammed the BJP government and said, "Female wrestlers protesting sexual harassment by a BJP MP brutally manhandled by Delhi Police while PM Modi inaugurated the new Parliament. The shameful state of our democracy under the BJP cannot be hidden by a swanky building."
Earlier in the day, security was beefed up in Lutyens' Delhi for the new parliament building inauguration and wrestlers' mahapanchayat. Thousands of police personnel had been deployed and multiple layers of barricades were put in place.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat earlier said that the wrestlers will hold a women's Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament building on May 28. She said, "We have decided to hold a peaceful women's Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament building on May 28. Police have closed New Delhi but we request everyone to attend Mahila Panchayat...we will suffer all the atrocities by Police without any violence."
Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, along with other protesting wrestlers, are calling for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh on charges of sexual misconduct towards numerous female wrestlers.
