New Delhi: The wrestlers who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over charges of sexual harassment, on Wednesday demanded lie-detector test on Singh under the supervision of Supreme Court, news agency PTI reported. "Those people speaking in favour of the WFI chief and saying that we are lying, I would say that Brij Bhushan should undergo a Narco Test under Supreme Court...and also the seven women wrestlers (who have alleged sexual harassment)," Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said at a press conference.
"I would request the womenfolk in the country to support us just like they did in the Nirbhaya case. Express solidarity with us because we are also fighting for the cause of women. If we win this fight, we would have sent a strong message, but if we lose we would go back 50 years," she added.
Notably, a day after Delhi police registered two FIRs against Singh on April 28, he claimed innocence and said he was ready "to face any kind of investigation."
Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said contrary to public perception, the protesting wrestlers were not against national competitions. He said if the competitions take place under the supervision of the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad hoc panel, he would welcome them.
"I request the IOA ad hoc committee to organise all the tournaments, because we also do not want to halt wrestling activity. We are not calling wrestlers here (protest site) because their training and preparations will suffer. We laud the constitution of the ad hoc committee," PTI quoted Punia as saying.
The wrestlers also decided to wear black armbands on Thursday as a mark of protest over the alleged inaction of the authorities.
"I appeal to all the individuals and organisations supporting us to come and join us in a black armband protest on Thursday. Tomorrow, we will express our opposition (virodh) by wearing black armbands," said Vinesh Phogat, the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist.
It is to be noted that some of the country's top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold winner Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for more than a fortnight, demanding arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing seven women wrestlers, including a minor.