THE HARYANA government is coming under increasing pressure to take a stand on the continuing protest by wrestlers, who belong to the state, demanding the arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. Barring a few BJP leaders, the Manohar Lal Khattar government has largely stuck to the stance that law will take its course, even as the Opposition and Haryana's powerful khaps have flocked to the wrestlers' side. Khattar earlier said he did not support wrestlers resorting to protests, adding: “The issue is not related to Haryana. It is related to players’ teams and the Union government. The Supreme Court has already ordered registration of FIRs.” With FIR details now indicating the level of harassment the wrestlers were allegedly subjected to, The Indian Express called up the entire Haryana Council of Ministers to get their response. Overall, the ministers stuck to the official line. A few said the wrestlers should wait for the police's probe findings, others said the protests were engineered by the Opposition, while several refused to comment. Here is what they said: Dushyant Chautala, Deputy Chief Minister, JJP “The allegations are very serious in nature. From what I have gathered from media reports, the Delhi Police needs to speed up its investigation into the matter. Everything is on the Delhi Police as of now. For me to say who is innocent or guilty, it is not possible, because it has all come out in the public what the FIRs state. It is up to the Delhi Police to expedite their investigation into the FIRs. If the allegations are substantiated by the probe, the strictest possible action should be taken. Although it is not a state (Haryana) subject, everybody from the state is with these girls.” Anil Vij, Home Minister, BJP “They (the wrestlers) should come out of the clutches of Opposition leaders and not allow themselves to be sacrificed for political interests. Somewhere there is a mahapanchayat or somewhere a dharna. They have the right to take part in an agitation, but players should come out of the clutches of these Opposition people soon. The government is listening to the players. They demanded a committee, registration of FIRs, that has been done. These players are our national heroes but the matter has got a little spoiled because they have got caught in the clutches of Opposition leaders.” (Earlier Vij had offered to raise the wrestlers' issues with the highest level in the government.) Kanwar Pal, School Education Minister, BJP “Both sides are giving their versions. I saw on social media that the complainant whom they (the wrestlers) said is a minor has three birth certificates in her name. What would have happened if he (Brij Bhushan) had got imprisoned under the POCSO Act on the basis of this (one of the FIRs against him is under the Act to prevent sexual assault against minors)! That is why an inquiry is required. Any action against anybody should only be taken after a thorough inquiry. Once the inquiry is completed, whoever is found guilty should be punished. Would it be called justice if, only on the basis of allegations, somebody is thrown into jail without an inquiry? A proper investigation is required to unveil the truth. Once the truth comes out, whoever is found guilty should be punished accordingly. What is happening is that one side is firm on its accusations, while the other side is vehemently opposing them. So, how will there be justice? That is why everybody should wait for the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.” Moolchand Sharma, Transport Minister, BJP “Our daughters are our pride, they are our honour. But, nobody should politicise this issue. A player should be seen as a player, also a player should not play into the hands of politicians. Otherwise, their sanctity will diminish. Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani hona chahiye (the truth should come out). An impartial probe should be conducted. Yes, the way the Delhi Police treated our daughters (as they marched to the new Parliament building) needs to be condemned and action should be taken against them. (But) Brij Bhushan is giving his side of the version and it is for the courts of law and police to find the truth. We are all making efforts to resolve this ongoing standoff. Justice shall surely be given to our daughters.” Ranjit Singh, Energy Minister, Independent “I don't want to say anything on this. I have said earlier what I had to say.” (Last month, Ranjit Singh, who was earlier in the INLD and is the son of its late supremo Devi Lal, had supported the protesting wrestlers and said, “These wrestlers have brought pride to the country at the international level. It is not fair if sportspersons have to sit on dharna for their rights.” He had also said that the allegations against Brij Bhushan should be investigated at the earliest, and he should resign on moral grounds.) Anoop Dhanak, Revenue Minister, BJP Dhanak promised to talk, but did not call back. Later, he could not be reached. Devender Babli, Panchayats Minister, BJP “These wrestlers have brought laurels to our country and we are proud of them. Nobody is trying to save Brij Bhushan. Rather, FIRs have already been registered and an investigation is on.” Jai Prakash Dalal, Agriculture Minister, BJP Dalal did not respond to repeated calls. (Earlier, he had said: “As per the law, anybody and everybody has the right to carry out a peaceful protest. All legitimate demands shall be fulfilled as per the law. Be it farmers or sportspersons, all their legitimate demands shall be fulfilled as there is a BJP government, whose primary objective is to serve the people of this nation.”) Dr Banwari Lal, Cooperative Minister, BJP Banwari Lal did not respond to repeated calls. (Earlier, he had said: “The wrestlers' protest is being carried out at the behest of Opposition parties. They keep getting such protests orchestrated.”) Sandeep Singh, Printing and Stationery Minister, BJP Singh promised to call back but was later unavailable. (Singh is himself facing an FIR over sexual harassment charges levelled by a woman coach. He was removed as Sports Minister after much delay by the Khattar government, but continues to hold his Printing and Stationery portfolio.) Om Prakash Yadav, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes, BJP Yadav could not be reached despite repeated calls and messages. (Speaking earlier this week to a few mediapersons, Yadav had feigned ignorance, saying he did not have much information about the incident and said only the Union government could speak on the matter as it pertained to it. He had also called the protesting wrestlers “nation's heroes”.) Dr Kamal Gupta, Urban Local Bodies, BJP Gupta could not be reached despite repeated attempts. Kamlesh Dhanda, Women and Child Development, BJP The only woman in the Khattar Ministry, Dhanda did not respond to queries.
