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Several political leaders, including BJP MP Brijendra Singh, voiced their support for protesting wrestlers on Tuesday as they went to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to immerse their medals in the Ganga. After a two-hour protest, the wrestlers were convinced not to go ahead with their plan.
In a tweet, Brijendra Singh said, “I feel the pain and helplessness of our wrestlers forcing them to the brink of throwing away their lifetime of hard work — the medals from Olympics, CWGs, Asian Games in the holy Ganga. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Singh is the only BJP MP from Haryana to have spoken openly in support of the wrestlers. On April 28, he tweeted: “It is disheartening to see our wrestlers protesting on the streets. It should be our endeavour to protect our athletes from any kind of injustice. I request the govt to work towards providing an environment which motivates our athletes to focus on practice & bring medals to India.”
Singh’s father and former Union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh recently visited the dharna site of the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to express solidarity and said the “allegations levelled by them are serious in nature”.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress urged the wrestlers not to immerse their medals in the Ganga. He said their medals were the pride of the country and not the favour given by any government or an individual. “The country which has celebrated your win is still standing by you. Don’t be disheartened,” he added.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni also urged the wrestlers not to immerse medals in Ganga. Chaduni sought time till June 4 to “hold a state-level panchayat in support of the protesting wrestlers in the Sonipat district”.
Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said it was “unfortunate” that the wrestlers were “forced to immerse their medals in Ganga”. “Today, the entire world is watching how the BJP is trying to protect an MP who is accused of sexual harassment. I never imagined that the wrestlers would have to see such a day.”
Opposition leaders in Haryana — wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik who are protesting are from the state — have consistently been backing the wrestlers. On May 7, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij expressed his willingness to mediate between the government and the wrestlers.
Haryana power minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, an independent legislator supporting the Manohar Lal Khattar government, said on May 2: “A person who faces such allegations should not defend himself and should offer resignation…I don’t even like his face.”
Chautala, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, said: “Lal Bahadur Shastri had tendered his resignation over a (train) accident (in 1956). I had resigned from the Haryana Cabinet along with six ministers when firing had taken place in Meham (in 1990) in which eight persons had died.”
The wrestlers proceeded to Haridwar after their protest site at Jantar Mantar was cleared out by the police on Sunday. In letters shared on social media, they said they would immerse their medals in the Ganga and proceed to fast unto death at India Gate.
