Congress’ Deepender Hooda urges protesting wrestlers not to throw their medals in river Ganga

Hooda says the top wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia won the medals not due to Brij Bhushan Singh's courtesy, but because of their years’ long hard work, penance, and commitment.

Congress' Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Deepender Hooda, posted a tweet (with folded hands emoji) issuing an appeal to the medalists, that they should not throw away their medals in river Ganga. (Express Photo)

By: Express New Service

2 min readChandigarhMay 30, 2023 04:20 PM IST First published on: May 30, 2023 at 04:20 PM IST

Soon after the protesting wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia announced that they would be throwing away their medals in river Ganga at Haridwar Tuesday, Haryana Congress’ senior leader issued an appeal requesting the medalists not to do so.

Congress’ Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Deepender Hooda, posted a tweet (with folded hands emoji) issuing an appeal to the medalists, that they should not throw away their medals in river Ganga.

“You have not got these medals because of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s courtesy, but because of your years’ long hard work, penance and commitment. Undoubtedly, the sportspersons have been subjected to barbaric treatment. The entire country is saddened due to that.

देश का गौरव बढ़ाने वाले खिलाड़ियों से मेरी अपील है कि अपने मेडल गंगा में न बहाएं। 🙏 । आपको ये मेडल भाजपा सांसद बृजभूषण शरण सिंह की कृपा से नहीं मिले हैं अपितु वर्षों के तप और साधना से मिले हैं।

निःसंदेह पिछले दिनों खिलाड़ियों साथ बेहद बर्बरतापूर्ण व्यवहार हुआ है। जिससे सारा…

— Deepender S Hooda (@DeependerSHooda) May 30, 2023

This is the same land where an attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman had resulted in Mahabharat war. I would like to warn the government that they should shed arrogance and follow the principles of governance, hear the sportspersons’ voice and give them justice,” Hooda said.

Must Read | Wrestlers’ protest: The story so far

The wrestlers have said they will throw their Olympic and world medals in the Ganga as a way of protesting the high-handedness of the police. They also said they will sit on a fast unto death at New Delhi’s India Gate.

“These medals are our life and soul. After we put it in the River Ganga, there would be no meaning for us to live. So we will go to India Gate and sit on a fast unto death,” the wrestlers said in a statement.

The wrestlers who were on their way from the protest site at Jantar Mantar to the new Parliament building were forcibly removed and detained by the Delhi Police on May 28. The protesters were planning to hold a women’s ‘Mahapanchayat’ outside the Parliament as it was being inaugurated.

After they were released from the police stations where they were kept under detention by the Delhi Police, they were not allowed to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar.