Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar termed the action taken by the Delhi police against protesting wrestlers in the national capital as "painful". His daughter and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule also condemned the incident while the party national spokesperson Clyde Crasto took a jibe at Union Minister Smriti Irani, and actors Shahrukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. These statements came after Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were detained on Sunday for allegedly violating law and order as they breached the security cordon while trying to move forth towards the new Parliament building to hold the planned women's 'Mahapanchayat'.
The NCP chief who is also the president of the Maharashtra Amateur Wrestling Association which is affiliated with the Wrestling Federation of India said, "Its painful to see how Delhi Police has manhandled and detained our prominent women wrestlers who are seeking justice with democratic ways. I strongly condemn the reckless behaviour of Delhi Police towards our athletes who are the pride of our nation. Our democratic values and ethos has been ashamed today with this act of brutality."
Sule hit out at the Centre by saying, "Did the Union Home Ministry grant permission to manhandle them? The Central government must provide unequivocal answers." She said that she was deeply "dismayed by the deplorable treatment of Olympic medallists and sportswomen".
She tweeted "It is truly unfortunate that sportspersons who have brought honour to our nation through sports are compelled to wage such battles for justice. Winners who were felicitated by all and sundry post their victories are suddenly villains who are asking for justice."
Party spokesperson Crasto while launching an attack on Union Minister for Women and Child Development, said, "Ms Smriti Irani, these are our women wrestlers and see how they are being manhandled. You are India's woman and child development minister, is it not your duty to protect them and solve their problems. Why do we hear and see you speak only on issues concerning Rahul Gandhi."
He then took a jibe at Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar while saying that they tweeted about the new Parliament building's inauguration but remained silent when the wrestlers were being mistreated despite the fact that both of them have acted in sports films in the past. Crasto asked, "What is stopping them from tweeting and showing support to our wrestlers who are fighting for justice? What or who are they afraid of?"
Wrestlers resumed their protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh on April 23 while demanding his arrest for the alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers including a minor.