India's top wrestlers, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, have threatened to resume their protest following the election of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh as president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association.
The wrestlers, both Olympic medalists, are also upset that Sanjay Singh, a close assistant to Brij Bhushan, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj, would return as WFI president and handle day-to-day operations after the federation's ban was overturned by United World Wrestling on Tuesday.
Sakshi and Bajrang threatened to resume their protests on social media due to decision-making authority held by supporters of Brij Bhushan at the state and WFI levels. Before this, Karan served as UP wrestling's vice president.
Bajrang Punia & Sakshi Malik on Wrestler's Protest
"Just 2-3 days back, Brij Bhushan's son became the president of the UP wrestling body despite him saying no one from his family would come into wrestling administration, the government had promised that Brij Bhushan or his relatives or associates would not govern the sport," Bajrang said in an Instagram post.
आप सभी को नमस्कार! मैं सरकार से निवेदन करता हूं कि इस पर जल्द से जल्द फैसला ले।हमारी खामोशी को हमारी कमजोरी ना समझे। @ianuragthakur @IndiaSports @wrestling pic.twitter.com/VOH5dPk95f— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) February 14, 2024
The bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics demanded that the government make a decision immediately or they would be compelled to restart protests. "I request the government to take a quick decision. Even though the IOA (ministry) has suspended the WFI, the WFI conducted its nationals in Pune, elections are happening in states, and the WFI thinks it is bigger than the government, we wrestlers will talk to all those who support us — farmers groups, khap panchayats, labor unions, and women organizations — and make a decision in the next two to three days. I request the government not to force us to start the protests again.
Sakshi also stated on Wednesday that she would return to the streets if those connected to Brij Bhushan were permitted to head the WFI. "I have retired from wrestling but I won't allow Brij Bhushan and his people to run the federation and also trouble women wrestlers. In the coming days, we will talk to everyone who was involved in the protest and decide the future course of action. I request the government to remove people connected to Brij Bhushan from the WFI and place someone clean and capable at the top," she said in a video that was uploaded on X. "Sanjay Singh has done some setting with the UWW and got the suspension lifted," she said in the video.
All about the Wrestler's protest
Brij Bhushan has been accused of sexual harassment by six female wrestlers. Last year, protests seeking his arrest were spearheaded by Sakshi, Bajrang, and two-time world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat.
Following a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the government informed the protestors that no one connected to Brij Bhushan would run in the WFI elections.
The newly-elected committee of the governing body was suspended by the Sports Ministry three days following the WFI elections on December 21. The behavior of Brij Bhushan just after the election results were declared served as the impetus for the action.
A ministry official revealed the specifics of the action, stating that Brij Bhushan "appears to be in complete control" and that WFI matters were being run out of his premises, "wherein sexual harassment of players has been alleged," even after the new committee had been formed.
Image Source: X(Twitter)/multiple sources
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