Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia has accused the Delhi police of cutting electricity and ration supplies at the wrestlers protest site in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. In an Instagram video, he quoted the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) as saying that the cops “won’t allow food and water, no matter what".
He alleged that the problem began after the Supreme Court sent a notice to Delhi police register an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of sexual harassment levelled by seven women wrestlers.
#WATCH | Police said that if you want to protest, sleep on the road. What kind of pressure has come on them today, there was no such problem before, this has happened only because of the pressure of the Supreme Court: Wrestler Bajrang Punia on registering FIR against WFI chief… pic.twitter.com/XpeVtQJMZ9— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023
Punia also accused the police of barricading the protest site and ‘beating up’ people who were assigned to deliver supplies to them. “Until justice is served, we will protest no matter how much the police administration tortures us,” he asserted.
Demanding that sports should be separated from politics, wrestler Satyawart Kadian, husband of Olympian Sakshi Malik said that their “on-paper fight" has just begun.
Delhi | It is good that FIR has been registered. What will we get from the FIR? Will FIR get us justice? Delhi Police should have lodged an FIR on the very first day. Our on-paper fight has just started. Let's see what our legal team & coaches have to say. We are demanding that… pic.twitter.com/Wky5Llo7HD— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023
List of Popular Faces Supporting Protesting Wrestlers
The film and sporting fraternity and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee put their weight behind the protesting wrestlers with Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra leading the way calling for “quick action" to ensure that justice is served. Banerjee, who is the chief of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), said the guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation.
“Shameful that our top International athletes are forced to protest on streets against sexual harassment but accused BJP MP is being consistently shielded by the govt. #IStandWithMyChampions Sack & investigate #BrijBhushanSharanSingh," actor Swara Bhasker posted on Twitter.
Top Updates
• Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. A day ago, grand old party lawmaker Deepender Hooda met them and called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the issues raised by the wrestlers to find out who were “protecting" the accused.
• The wrestlers have put up huge banners at the protest site, listing all the ongoing criminal proceedings against Brij Bhushan. “This is first step towards victory but our protest will continue," Sakshi Malik told reporters.
• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the wrestlers in Supreme Court, on Friday expressed his worries about the safety and security of the protesting grapplers. Without naming anyone, he said 14 cases are pending against “this gentleman", including one under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).
• “Bearing in mind the content which has been placed on record, we direct the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to make an assessment of the threat perception and provide adequate security to the minor girl involved," the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha said in its order.
• It said an affidavit be filed before it on or before May 5, the next date of hearing, about the steps taken for the security of the minor girl.
• Delhi Police on Friday filed two FIRs against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. While the first FIR pertains to allegations of a minor wrestler and was registered under POCSO Act, the second was related to outraging modesty.
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