The top Indian wrestlers accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of Wrestling Federation of India for harassing several women wrestlers in the past decade.
The struggle of women wrestlers against the WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has outreached the SC. The Supreme Court board was led by the Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on 24th April 2023 and chose to investigate the petition that was filed against Mr.Brij Bhushan Singh accusing sexual harassment by seven Indian female wrestlers.
Around thirty Indian women wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya, Vinesh Phogat, and few other wrestlers made a non-violent sit-in protest on 25th April at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the President of Wrestling Federation of India, Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, claiming that he and some other coaches had sexually abused many female players. Several politicians also joined the protest and supported the women wrestlers for an immediate action from the authorities.
A senior police officer from Delhi on 24th April said that, Delhi Police has made an attempt to collect the report from the investigation committee which was built by the Ministry of Sports to inspect about the sexual harassment accusations against the WFI President Mr.Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
A candle procession was held by the Wrestlers as they continued their revolt at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday in New Delhi, the national capital against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief Mr.Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The candle march was supported by Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phoghat and Sakshee Malik.
The Olympic gold medallist Mr.Neeraj Chopra reached out on 28th April 2023 and gave his support to the wrestling protestors, he asked for the quick action from the officials in order to assure that the justice is been given to the wrestlers.
Neeraj Chopra tweeted that, “Watching athletes demanding justice on streets really hurts and it is our responsibility to safeguard the dignity and the integrity of the athletes who had worked really hard to represent our country and made all of us proud, this situation shouldn’t have happened to our athletes’. Justice should be served to all the athletes and the issue should be dealt in a transparent and in an impartial manner.
While speaking to the press, Sakshee said that, we wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi would listen to our point of view. She said that they are trying to show the light to the PM and other higher authorities through the candle march. The wrestler Sakshee said that the FIR was not filed even after the complaint was raised against the Wrestling Federation of India and its President Mr. Singh. She continued to say that they trust the Supreme Court above all because it would definitely serve justice to all the wrestlers who are protesting in New Delhi.
The support for the protestors increased and as a result, Delhi police filed 2 FIRs on 28th April 2023 against the WFI and its President Bharan Singh on accusations of sexual abuse by seven women wrestlers. Once the FIRs were registered the protestors enjoyed their first victory and said that they will continue their protest until Mr.Singh is removed from all the existing positions.
The first FIR was concerned to the accusations of a minor wrestler and was recorded under the POCSO Act, the second FIR was related to the outraging humility.
The board members of the Supreme Court considered the current situation and said that the security should be provided to the alleged minor girl and also said that the police commissioner is free to make the required assessment of the threats and to provide the necessary security to the little girl.
