It’s unfortunate women have to sit in protest to get justice in this country: Bajrang Punia

A day before the police are to submit a status report to a Delhi court on the action taken on the FIRs registered against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said he and the protesting wrestlers had placed their faith in the judiciary to get justice.

“We have hope from the court. Nobody is bigger than courts and we trust the court. It was after we approached the Supreme Court, the FIRs were filed. Those whose fight is false get nervous, but ours is a fight for justice and we are not worried,” Bajrang said at Jantar Mantar.

A plea moved by the wrestlers at a Delhi court has sought a court-monitored investigation and recording statements of the alleged victims before a magistrate.

The lone minor among the seven female wrestlers, who filed police complaints alleging sexual harassment by WFI (WFI) president and BJP MP Singh, had recorded her statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on Wednesday.

“The minor appeared before a magistrate and gave her statement on Wednesday,” a senior officer from the Delhi Police headquarters confirmed on Wednesday.

The police officer also confirmed that a notice had been sent to the WFI, asking it to provide certain documents and details of tournaments in which the complainants had participated. Some of the alleged incidents of sexual harassment are learnt to have occurred at tournaments where Brij Bhushan was also present.

The protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat sported black bands on their heads as a mark of protest against the slow pace of the investigation.

“It was a good step to wear black bands. It is unfortunate that women have to be on protest just to get justice in this country. We are getting support from everywhere. It is sad that we are sitting here for 19 days, but we are getting strength from people who are supporting us. If we withdraw our protests now, girls won’t be able to raise their voices against injustice in the future,” Bajrang added.

Bajrang admitted that he is losing out on training time because of the protest, but added that getting justice for the women wrestlers was important.

“We do feel bad that we should have been training because there are the Asian Games and the Olympic qualifying also. This was a time to train for that. We have been here without training for 19 days. All the wrestlers who are here are suffering. But first of all, it is important that the girls who are fighting for justice, get justice,” Bajrang added.

Bajrang said that some of the complainants were still getting threats (to withdraw the complaints) but he did not specify from whom.

On Wednesday, the ad-hoc committee appointed to run the day-to-day affairs of the WFI and conduct upcoming elections took the decision to have women’s camps at the Sports Authority of India centre in Patiala and the men’s camps at Sonipat.

“We welcome the step, the incidents (of sexual harassment) in Lucknow are what we are raising. We are not saying ‘don’t have camps in Patiala or Gandhinagar’. Have camps where there are good facilities for wrestlers but don’t have camps where wrestlers are sexually harassed. Worldwide camps are held at different places. But here women’s camps are held in Lucknow and the president is there. But he doesn’t even ask the men how they are doing,” Bajrang added.