Media outside Anurag Thakur’s residence as the Sports Minister met Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. (Photo: Andrew Amsan)Wrestlers Protest Highlights: Just hours after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said that the central government was willing to have a ‘discussion’ with protesting wrestlers, a delegation of India’s top wrestlers including Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik reached the residence of Thakur in the national capital on Wednesday.
“The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same,” Thakur posted on Twitter past midnight on Wednesday.
This comes as a de-escalation after India’s top wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat went to Haridwar to immerse their Olympic and world championship medals in the Ganga. The wrestlers had decided on such a drastic step after their protest site at Jantar Mantar was cleared out by the police. They have been on a dharna at Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Singh has denied the charges.
Scroll down to follow updates of the Wrestlers Protest
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia with supporters during their protest march towards new Parliament building, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (PTI Photo)
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh used to keep touching wrestlers saying come here, come and stand here. From her (complainant’s) behaviour, it was clear something was wrong," wrestling referee Jagbir Singh on incident of WFI prez touching wrestler's buttocks.
Read Nihal Koshie's report
Until Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s meeting with the wrestlers this week — the first to be arranged publicly since the second protest began on April 23 — there had been little give in the government’s stance.As the wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar and moved the Supreme Court, the dragging of feet and lack of empathy from the ruling party and government continued, even as Singh continued to project, unchecked, the impression of being protected and patronised by the powers that be.
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If a common man was accused, the wheels of criminal law would have immediately been set into motion. But, the same yardstick does not apply to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has friends in powerful places, writes Maharukh Adenwalla, who is a lawyer practising in Mumbai.
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The Delhi Police has questioned the family members of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in connection with the two FIRs lodged against him by protesting wrestlers, it is learnt. Sources said police will revisit the homes of the Wrestling Federation of India chief in Delhi, Gonda and Lucknow to collect more evidence and submit an investigation report to the court next week.
On Saturday and Sunday, the police went to Singh’s residence in Gonda and questioned more than 12 staffers and associates in connection with the sexual harassment probe. The police said they also went to Lucknow and Ayodhya to question associates.
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One of the most significant takeaways from the six-hour meeting between Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and the protesting wrestlers is the potential promise of a clean-up and power-shift in the Wrestling Federation of India.
The government assured the wrestlers that no one from Singh’s family will be allowed to contest the upcoming WFI elections. And, more importantly, the “opinion” of the three protesting wrestlers – Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat – will be considered in deciding who occupies the key posts of president, general secretary and treasurer, reports Mihir Vasavda for The Indian Express.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced the Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik-led delegation agreed to suspend their protests till June 15, by which the Delhi Police is expected to file a chargesheet; request for a joint statement turned down by wrestlers.
After a hushed meeting with HM Amit Shah, protesting wrestlers had demanded future talks take place after an official invitation from the government. The sports minister's invitation and Wednesday's meeting were the first steps in the thaw, writes Mihir Vasavda.
Read: How a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah last Saturday set the stage for talks with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and Rio 2016 medallist Sakshi Malik led a delegation of protesting wrestlers to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s residence on Wednesday for a discussion on their demands. Following an almost six-hour long meeting the wrestlers stated that they would not stage any protests until June 15. Furthermore, the government assured them that the police investigation on Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh would be concluded by then and the pending WFI elections conducted by June 30.
From Jantar Mantar sit-in to nearly immersing medals in Ganga, here are the 10 most significant moments during the Wrestlers Protest.
After a long meeting at the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s residence on Wednesday in the national capital, some of the country’s top wrestlers have stated that they will halt their protests until June 15. Read all about it here.
Bajrang Punia: "Government has assured us that police investigation will be completed before 15th June. We have requested that all FIRs against wrestlers should be taken back and he has agreed to it. If no action is taken by 15th June, we will continue our protest."
Sakshi Malik: "The government has sought time till June 15 for the investigation to conclude. The protest is not over yet. We will not stage any protest till June 15."
The wrestlers are now leaving Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's residence. 'Chaotic scenes at the gate as police push away journalists to make way for the wrestlers' cars,' Express' Andrew Amsan tells.
"Word coming in that wrestlers will leave the residence soon," reports Andrew Amsan from the national capital.
From Andrew Amsan, who is reporting from outside sports minister's residence: "Huge media presence outside Anurag Thakur's residence. Sakshi and Bajrang are still at the sports minister's residence. The meeting began around 11:15 am."
From Andrew Amsan, our reporter outside Anurag Thakur's residence: "Satyawart Kadian (husband of Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik) drives out of the minister's residence. Sakshi and Bajrang are still in meeting."
India's top wrestlers have been protesting since January against five-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was until recently the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. Here's everything you need to know about the issue.
#WATCH Wrestler Bajrang Punia and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait arrive at the residence of Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Ybmtc4lzUg— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2023
After Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the government was open to having talks with the protesting wrestlers, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik told ANI: "We will discuss the proposal given by the govt with our seniors & supporters. Only when everyone gives their consent that the proposal is fine, then will we agree. It won't happen that we will agree to anything that the government says and end our protest. No time fixed for the meeting yet."
Four days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met a delegation of protesting wrestlers at his official residence in New Delhi, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur tweeted that the central government is willing to have a ‘discussion’ with protesting wrestlers.
“The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same,” Thakur posted on Twitter past midnight on Wednesday.
With most of the protesting wrestlers standing firm on their charges of sexual assault allegations against a party MP – though the minor among them has now withdrawn her charges — there is a growing sense in both the Central government and the BJP that the issue that has got protracted needs to be addressed urgently.
One imperative is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to the US, from June 21 to 24, where he will be hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House. “There is an urgency that the wrestlers’ issue has to be sorted out before this,” a source said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur are working to that effect, sources said. There is uneasiness among party leaders over the long-drawn-out nature of the protest and the impression that the government has not been responsive to such a “sensitive” issue.
The Delhi Police went to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda to investigate the sexual harassment cases against him. Officials said Tuesday the police questioned a few of the employees and associates of Singh, who is also a BJP MP, and recorded their statements.
A special investigation team is investigating the two cases against Singh—one based on the complaint lodged by six wrestlers and another one on the complaint of a minor wrestler—and recording statements of witnesses, complainants, and others involved. So far, more than 125 people have been examined and their statements have been recorded. (READ MORE)
Packed halls, grapplers drenched in sweat, pumped-up coaches and the familiar scent of pain-relieving gels. On the face of it, the selection trials at Sports Authority of India’s Sonepat Centre for the upcoming under-15 and under-20 Asian Wrestling Championships were like any other in the recent past. But there was one stark difference: the absence of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh.
While some voices were still supporting him, wrestlers and coaches spoke in hushed tones about feeling “a lot freer”, participating without Brij Bhushan watching over them. “We are more pumped up and can participate without any pressure. Earlier the president would constantly hurl instructions over the mic and disrupt our rhythm. We just feel calmer with him not being around,” said a wrestler, requesting anonymity. (READ)
Seemingly unperturbed by the mounting agitation against him, Singh was active inside Parliament taking selfies with all who would pose with him so that he could post it on social media. Several MPs discreetly moved away when they saw him approaching.
BJP Jat MPs in particular kept their distance and were visibly uncomfortable with their party’s failure to act against Singh, as the campaign has gained much momentum in their community, which has produced many sports medalists. (More)
After alleging sexual harassment and stalking against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in two statements, one before the police and another before a magistrate, the lone minor among the seven female wrestlers has withdrawn her allegations, The Indian Express has learnt. (READ MORE)
Packed halls, grapplers drenched in sweat, pumped-up coaches and the familiar scent of pain-relieving gels. On the face of it, the selection trials at Sports Authority of India’s Sonepat Centre for the upcoming under-15 and under-20 Asian Wrestling Championships were like any other in the recent past. But there was one stark difference: the absence of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, reports Express' Andrew Amsan. (READ MORE)
If a common man was accused, the wheels of criminal law would have immediately been set into motion. But, the same yardstick does not apply to Brij Bhushan Singh, who has friends in powerful places.
Read the column from Maharukh Adenwalla.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia terms as "rumour" news of withdrawing from wrestlers' protest. Neither retreated nor withdrawn from protest: Bajrang Punia, says news of women wrestlers taking back the FIR also 'false'
"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."
It has been over 10 years since the enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (the POCSO Act) and nearly a decade since the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which amended the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act, after the December 2012 Delhi rape and murder case. The POCSO Act and the amendments to criminal law portrayed the legislature’s intent to safeguard women and children from sexual offences. Moreover, the Crime in India 2021 report, shows that 89,200 cases were registered in the country under Section 354 of the IPC and 16,401 cases under Sections 8 and 10 of the POCSO Act. These figures may reflect the efficacy of these legislation. But is that the picture on the ground? (READ MORE)
Back-to-back mahapanchayats in support of the wrestlers protesting against a BJP MP over sexual harassment allegations have further charged the political atmosphere in Haryana and its neighbouring areas.
In the past four days, as many as three mahapanchayats have taken place — in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar and Haryana’s Kurukshetra and Sonipat districts — attended by people from different areas. The leading farmer and khap leaders of the region have addressed these mahapanchayats while extending their support to the protesting wrestlers, who have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and launched an agitation seeking his arrest. (More)
Inspired by India's medal haul at international events, a generation of budding wrestlers fight on, hoping they too can some day make the journey out of their villages. Now, as the case against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of alleged sexual harassment plays out in the Capital, they watch on warily. (READ MORE)
DAYS AFTER they threatened to throw their medals into the Ganga, and the night before their five-day deadline for action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh expired, a delegation of the protesting wrestlers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence in the Capital late Saturday.
The meeting, which is learnt to have lasted for over two hours and ended after midnight, was attended by Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik along with several coaches. “We had a meeting with the Home Minister. I can’t comment further,” Bajrang told The Indian Express. (MORE)
? One Olympian, a Commonwealth gold medallist, an international referee and a state-level coach have corroborated the allegations of at least three female wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, The Indian Express has learnt.
? IOA in race against time for holding elections at WFI to avoid international suspension of wrestling federation. It has under one week to carry out a process that, as per the Sports Code, could take 11 to 16 days. The 45-day deadline set by the government for the IOA to complete the WFI’s election process ends on June 10 – counting from April 27, the day the ad-hoc committee was formed. (Read The Indian Express' report)
? All the members of the 1983 World Cup winning cricket team, except the current BCCI president Roger Binny, have come out in support of the top Indian wrestlers who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual exploitation and harassment.
? The International Olympic Committee issued a statement to The Indian Express – hours after the wrestlers threatened to immerse their medals into the Ganga – that the “treatment” meted out to the wrestlers over the weekend, when they were manhandled and detained for hours by the Delhi Police on the day the new Parliament was inaugurated, was “very disturbing.”
? Six-time Olympian Shiva Keshavan called on fellow athletes in IOA to realise the importance of their roles, and said this moment could be a catalyst for change. “When you are an athlete, you get celebrated for what you are doing… But here, you can really start to make an impact. So I think this role needs to be taken seriously by all the athletes who are part of administration. I understand that just because you are an athlete doesn’t mean you are a good administrator, but you do have a perspective of ground realities. Nobody is born a good administrator, these are skills that are learnt,” Keshavan told The Indian Express.
In December 2022, I attended a large-scale mela(fair) organised by members of a north Indian agricultural caste. The mela was intended to showcase the community’s cultural heritage. Women danced in a variety of traditional clothing and recited folk songs in the local language; stalls sold foods said to be common fare in the community; and large billboards displayed photos and information about historical figures belonging to the caste. Perhaps the most popular of all exhibitions was the one involving the nal, a hollow stone cylinder that has been an important part of the exercise regime of kushti (traditional wrestling) in rural India.
The event was organised in the form of a competition: Young men competed to see who could jerk-lift and hold upright the heaviest nal with one hand for the longest period. The all-male audience enthusiastically applauded each move and each competitor was cheered on enthusiastically. [Read full story]
One Olympian, a Commonwealth gold medallist, an international referee and a state-level coach have corroborated the allegations of at least three female wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, The Indian Express has learnt.
They are four of the 125 potential witnesses across four states whose statements have been recorded by Delhi Police.
This comes after the Delhi Police, on April 28, registered two FIRs that, as The Indian Express reported Thursday, have at least two instances of demanding “sexual favours” in lieu of professional assistance; close to 15 incidents of sexual harassment that include 10 episodes of inappropriate touching, molestation that includes running hands over breasts, touching the navel; several instances of intimidation including stalking. [Read More]
Amidst protest by the country’s top wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, India is staring at international suspension. And the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is in a race against time to stop that from happening – it has just one week to carry out a process that, as per the Sports Code, could take 11 to 16 days.
The 45-day deadline set by the government for the IOA to complete the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI’s) election process ends on June 10 – counting from April 27, the day the ad-hoc committee was formed. [Read More]
“We didn’t win the World Cup for Indira Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister in 1983. I find it very strange when people say that it (protest) is political. When Sakshi Malik, the first women grappler, won bronze in Rio 2016, she wasn’t doing it for Narendra Modi and BJP. She did it for the nation,” the former India all rounder said. (READ MORE)
In this long fight between the women wrestlers and Braj Bhushan Sharan Singh, there is a lesson for the Sports Ministry and sports federations. They better get used to the brand of athletes who will fight for their rights and make noise if they are exploited. They will show grit even outside the sporting arena. (READ MORE)
The 45-day deadline set by the government for the IOA to complete the WFI’s election process ends on June 10 – counting from April 27, the day the ad-hoc committee was formed. (READ MORE)
All the members of the 1983 World Cup winning team, except the current BCCI president Roger Binny, on Friday came out in support of the top Indian wrestlers who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual exploitation and harassment.
However, by late evening Binny distanced himself from the statement. “Contrary to some media reports, I would like to clarify that I have not issued any statement regarding the current situation of the wrestlers’ protest. I believe that the competent authorities are working on to resolve the issue. As a former cricketer, I believe that sports should not be mixed with politics,” Binny told PTI.
Kapil Dev, who captained the team to the country’s first World Cup trophy, said the “law of the land should prevail.” (READ MORE)
“This is not like another demand,” said a wrestling coach in Chhara village in Jhajjar district of Haryana. “Yeh humari izzat aur maan samman ki ladai hai…Iske liye kuch bhi ho sakta hai.”
The images on May 28 of the protesting wrestlers being pushed around, dragged, manhandled, and arrested by the police had disturbed — and angered — many across the country. Even more disturbing was the content of the FIRs by seven women wrestlers, including a minor, reported in The Indian Express, that they had allegedly been molested, sexually harassed, inappropriately touched and sexual favours sought from them by the head of the Wrestling Foundation of India, Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, also a BJP MP. (READ MORE)
Demanding immediate arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP Lok Sabha MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges, and stating that the protesting wrestlers “will not concede defeat”, khap leaders on Thursday decided to send a delegation to meet President Droupadi Murmu.
“We didn’t win the World Cup for Indira Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister in 1983. I find it very strange when people say that it (protest) is political. When Sakshi Malik, the first women grappler, won bronze in Rio 2016, she wasn’t doing it for Narendra Modi and BJP. She did it for the nation,” the Kirti Azad said. (READ MORE)
Late Tuesday evening, some of India’s most successful sportspersons stood at the banks of the Ganga in Hardwar, threatening to immerse their hard-won international medals in the holy river. As twilight turned to darkness, they agreed to give the government another opportunity to ensure justice to the aggrieved wrestlers.
Cut back to Sunday, May 28 , at about 11:30 am, India’s Prime Minister inaugurated the new Parliament building and amid revived feudal rituals, received a Sengol (a sceptre symbolic of ethical and fair governance) from a high priest. Around the same time, a stone’s throw away, Delhi Police was busy wrestling with some of India’s globally-renowned wrestlers, who were demanding justice. (READ MORE)
Former India all-rounder Kirti Azad said werstlers must get the jsutice as soon as possible becasue “justice delayed is justice denied.”“I have been raising my voice from the very first day. The team ultimately decided once they saw that the players were so mercilessly dragged on the 28th of May when they were doing the peaceful demonstration,” said Azad a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team.
Madan Lal said the team decided to release a statement after they saw the wrestlers went to Haridwar to throw their medals and the way the police treated them.
“That was the trigger point,” he told The Indian Express. “We have given the statement in favour of the protesting wrestlers. We can only request the government to listen to them. They have been protesting for the last two and three months and you can’t be just tone-deaf about it.” “Humey pata hai keemat. (We know what it takes to win the medal).
“Yeh court kis liye bana hua hai hamare desh mein. Woh hai na. Yehi chahenge ke bus isse critical angle na doh let go through the system (What is the use of judiciary in our country, that’s there right? Without giving it a critical angle, I want this issue to be resolved),” Kapil Dev told The Indian Express. (READ MORE)
On Tuesday, responding to a query from The Indian Express, the International Olympic Committee issued a statement – hours after the wrestlers threatened to drop their medals into the Ganga – that the “treatment” meted out to the wrestlers over the weekend, when they were manhandled and detained for hours by the Delhi Police on the day the new Parliament was inaugurated, was “very disturbing.” The IOC asked for an “unbiased, criminal investigation” into the allegations and underlined: “We urge that the safety and wellbeing of these athletes is duly considered throughout this process and that this investigation will be speedily concluded.” It also asked the IOA, headed by P T Usha, which has been conspicuous by its silence so far, to “protect the athletes.”
“On the pretext of getting a picture clicked with me, he pulled me towards him by my shoulder… to protect myself, I tried moving away from the accused (Singh)… Since I was not comfortable with the behaviour of the accused of forcing me, I, in order to escape, (his) clutches, repeatedly resisted his attempts and tried to push him away to which he (threatened): “Zyada smart bann rahi hai kya…aage koi competition nahi khelne kya tune?” (Acting too smart? You don’t want to be considered for tournaments in the future?), " said wrestler 6 in her complaint.
"We want that the Delhi Police concludes (investigation in) this case as soon as possible," says former cricketer and TMC leader Kirti Azad on protesting wrestlers.
"The rally was cancelled due to safety reasons": BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on a rally that was called in his support in Ayodhya