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

Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat rued the fact that not a single parliamentarian from BJP had met with the wrestlers "to extend support in our fight for women's dignity".

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik address the media at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi during their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Source : PTI

Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat on Sunday (May 14) lamented the fact that not a single parliamentarian from the ruling party had met with the wrestlers "to extend support in our fight for the dignity of women". She stated that from Monday, the wrestlers will deliver handwritten or e-mailed letters to all women parliamentarians of the ruling party, inviting them to come and support them, according to a video shared by the news agency PTI. 

VIDEO | "No woman BJP parliamentarian has come to talk to us yet, which is why we have planned to write to the woman BJP leaders urging them to hear us out," says protesting wrestler Vinesh Phogat. pic.twitter.com/DWgdvzaCrA

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2023

"When they talk about women's safety in the country, we are their daughters as well, and they should come out and support us," she said.

Earlier in the day, the protesting wrestlers referred to the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to take over all Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) operations as the "first step" in their struggle against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing WFI president.

The top wrestlers of the country, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar for the past 22 days in order to demand Brij Bhushan's arrest for allegedly harassing women wrestlers.

The IOA, in a letter dated May 12, requested that the secretary general of the WFI hand over official documents, including financial instruments, to its ad hoc panel, emphasising that the outgoing office bearers would have no role in the running of the federation.

The WFI stated that they will comply with the IOA order because they are already cooperating with the authorities.

"This (the current WFI's dissolution) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has begun in earnest, it's a victory for us... and we will continue or fight until we get justice," said Bajrang, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, quoted as saying by PTI. 

The IOA's three-member ad hoc committee has stated unequivocally that the process of electing new WFI office bearers will be completed within 45 days and that the charge will be returned to the elected body.