The United World Wrestling (UWW) expressed strong disapproval of the detention of India's prominent wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, just hours before a Mahila Mahapanchayat (women's conclave) was scheduled to take place near the newly-inaugurated Parliament building on Sunday.
The athletes have been leading a protest demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and an MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made by at least seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
The UWW condemned their detention and issued a warning to the national governing body, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), stating that it might suspend the federation if it fails to conduct its election within the specified timeframe of 45 days.
The IOA has appointed an ad hoc panel consisting of Bhupinder Singh Bajwa and Suma Shirur to take charge of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) operations earlier in May until the elections are held.
What did the UWW say in their statement?
"For several months, United World Wrestling has followed with great concern the situation in India where wrestlers are protesting over allegations of abuse and harassment by the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). It has taken due note that the WFI President has been put aside at an early stage and is currently not in charge.
The events of these last days are even more worrying that the wrestlers were arrested and temporarily detained by the police for initiating a march of protest. The site where they had been protesting for more than a month has also been cleared out by the authorities.
UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far. UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.
As it has already done since the beginning of this situation, UWW will hold a meeting with the wrestlers to inquire about their condition and safety and reconfirm our support for a fair and just resolution of their concerns.
Finally, UWW will request further information about the next elective general assembly from the IOA and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI. The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year."
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Wrestlers to begin hunger strike at India Gate
Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat are set to begin a hunger strike at India Gate in New Delhi to protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who has been accused of sexual harassment.
The wrestlers also wanted to immerse their medals in the Ganges and went to Haridwar to do the same but a timely intervention from farmer leader Naresh Tikait on Tuesday evening stopped them from doing so.
#WATCH | Protesting Wrestlers in Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/4kL7VKDLkB
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023
#WATCH | Naresh Tikait arrives in Haridwar where wrestlers have gathered to immerse their medals in river Ganga as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. He took medals from the wrestlers and sought five-day… pic.twitter.com/tDPHRXJq0T
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023
“They [wrestlers] need to be practising in stadiums but have been ill-treated and forced to sit at Jantar Mantar and now at sacred Ganga Ghat. In fact, action should be taken against Brij Bhushan. We are with truth and as farmers’ agitation had shown, sooner or later victory will be of truth. The entire Indian government is saving one man [Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh],” he added, "Tikait said, reported the Hindustan Times.
On Tuesday, the wrestlers posted similar statements on their social media handles, announcing their decision to fast unto death in front of India Gate.
“These medals are our life and soul,” their statement said. “After we put them in the River Ganga, there would be no reason us to live. So we will go to India Gate and sit on a fast unto death.”
English translation of the letter posted by Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat. "The correct place to leave our medals is in holy Ma Ganga and not in an unclean system that after using us as a mask and taking advantage of us now stands in support of our harasser. pic.twitter.com/9bDNj6zr26
— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) May 30, 2023
Notably, the wrestlers' protest comes after a year-long farmers' protest against three agriculture laws, which ultimately led to the laws being repealed in November 2021.
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