Kejriwal extends support to protesting wrestlers: ‘Took SC intervention to get FIR lodged’

“Just think about the fact that there is someone so powerful that it took a week-long struggle and intervention of the Supreme Court to get an FIR registered against them; if these children had not taken this head-on, wrongdoing would have gone on with our daughters,” he added.

Kejriwal said he would do whatever possible in his capacity as Chief Minister to help them. These wrestlers, he said, had worked incredibly hard to bring laurels to the nation and it was shameful that a BJP MP who had allegedly misbehaved with them was being protected.

“Remember what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri when the farmers were protesting against the three farm bills? The son of a BJP leader ran over four farmers and a journalist and the BJP used their entire political machinery to try and save the accused,” he alleged.

“Today one of their leaders misbehaves with our female wrestlers and the entire political machinery is being used to protect the accused. So the message being sent out is if anyone from the BJP indulges in wrong activities and misbehaves with women, then the party will use its entire machinery to protect such an individual… These are our daughters; it was not to see a day like this that they brought glory to the nation,” he further alleged.

Kejriwal also said in a tweet: “Modi ji, you jailed the one teaching poor children and hugged the one who exploited women players?”

On Friday, AAP ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi had met the wrestlers to extend their support. “If you need a generator for the purpose of electricity supply or water and food to continue this fight against the oppressors, the state government will provide whatever assistance it can and it stands in solidarity with our wrestlers,” Atishi had said.

Around 100 security personnel, including from Delhi Police and Central Police Force, were present at the spot when the CM arrived around 4 pm.

Somveer, a wrestler from Haryana who was at the site, said he was happy that the Delhi CM visited: “We got a sense of encouragement that our protest is valid and we will continue the same till justice is served.”

Vishal, another protesting wrestler, added: “We hope the CM’s visit would add to the legitimacy of our protest and expedite our demands.”