'Will Reach Out To Olympians Around The World': Protesting Wrestlers Intensify Demand For WFI Chief's Arrest

The protesting wrestlers have decided to take their "agitation global" by approaching Olympic medalists and athletes from other countries.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik speak with the media at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, May 15, during their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Source : PTI

The protesting wrestlers on Monday (May 15) decided to take their "agitation global" by approaching Olympic medalists and athletes from other countries. They warned that if their demand for the arrest of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is not met, a "big call" will be made after May 21, news agency PTI reported. 

Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, as well as Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the past 23 days, demanding Brij Bhushan's arrest for allegedly sexually harassing women grapplers, including a minor.

"We will take this protest around the world. We plan to contact Olympians and Olympic medalists from other countries. We will write to them and ask for their support," said Vinesh, who won gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.

"At Jantar Mantar, we have the impression that we are being restricted and pushed into a corner. So the more we agitate in other places and inform people elsewhere, the better. Today, we decided to go to Connaught Place and speak to the people there in order to gain their support in our fight for justice. The deadline for taking action against Brij Bhushan is May 21. If no decision is made, we will make a major decision about our agitation after that date," Vinesh said.

VIDEO | "We won't limit our protest to Jantar Mantar but extend it to other places too because we feel that we are being shunned away," says protesting wrestler Vinesh Phogat at Jantar Mantar. pic.twitter.com/6ppAEDSj65

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 15, 2023

READ | 'No Woman BJP Parliamentarian Came, Inviting Them To Extend Support': Wrestlers At Jantar Mantar

'We Are Being Stalked, Unknown People Sent At Night': Vinesh Phogat

She claimed that on Sunday night, some elements attempted to smear their protest and that the wrestlers were being stalked at the protest site. "Some people attempted to obstruct our protest. It happened the last time we brought our bedding to the protest site (at the beginning of the agitation)," she was quoted as saying by PTI. 

"We are being stalked. People record and take photographs... They do not listen when we tell them to stop. Some unknown people (women) also attempted to sleep here (inside the wrestlers' tent)," Vinesh said.

"Unknown women are being sent inside at night... Things are happening at the protest site that we do not want to happen... which bring a bad name to our cause and taint our fight for truth and justice." She also stated that the wrestlers will not limit themselves to the protest site, but will try to raise awareness of their plight among all citizens in the country.