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This is an archive article published on June 5, 2023

‘I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways, our fight continues’: Sakshi Malik joins work but protest to go on

Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia deemed news of withdrawing from wrestlers' protest as rumour.

Sangeeta, Bajrang, Sakshi, VineshWrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat during wrestlers protest march towards new Parliament building, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
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‘I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways, our fight continues’: Sakshi Malik joins work but protest to go on
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Sakshi Malik, on Monday, responded to media reports claiming she withdrew from the ongoing wrestlers’ protest against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and categorically stated that the ‘fight for justice’ will continue.

Malik also clarified that she will continue to take part in protests and rejected reports that she has withdrawn from the ongoing protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Taking to Twitter, the 30-year-old wrote: “This news is completely wrong. In the fight for justice, none of us has backed down, nor will we. Along with Satyagraha, I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways. Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don’t spread any wrong news.”

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Fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia also deemed the reports as fake and wrote on Twitter: “The news of withdrawing the movement is just a rumour. These news are being spread to harm us. We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement. The news of women wrestlers raising FIR is also false. The fight will continue till justice is served,” Punia tweeted.

Satyawart Kadian, Wrestler and husband of Sakshee Malikkh also gave his reaction to news agency ANI and said: “It’s fake news, we have not stepped back from protest. Our protest will continue.”

India’s top wrestlers have been protesting against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh for more than a month in the national capital, demanding his resignation. They have also levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Singh. FIRs have been registered in the case and officials said that the Delhi Police is expected to soon file a chargesheet in the matter.

Earlier, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had urged the wrestlers to “fully cooperate with a fair investigation” and let “the law take its own course”.

The last high-level meeting between the protesting wrestlers and government representatives was held on May 27, on the eve of the new Parliament’s inauguration. As the talks were inconclusive, the wrestlers, along with their supporters, went ahead with their plans to march to the new Parliament. They were stopped on the way, manhandled and detained by the Delhi Police. The police also filed an FIR against them under multiple sections, including rioting.

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In response to the treatment meted out to them, which was condemned by international sports bodies and athletes in India, the wrestlers decided to “immerse” their medals in the Ganga last Tuesday. They went to Haridwar but did a rethink at the last minute, after a phone call from a BJP leader who asked for some time, and pressure from their families.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait, who also reached Haridwar, asked the wrestlers to defer their decision by five days. On June 2, after Singh was forced to postpone his rally in Ayodhya, Tikait said at a khap panchayat that the government should be given “7 to 10 days” to take action against Singh.

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