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Journalism of Courage
Rio Olympics bronze medal-winning wrestler Sakshi Malik in an interview with The Indian Express talks about why women wrestlers decided to complain about sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh years after the incidents, on allegations that the protest has been highjacked by politicians, farmer groups and worker unions and why the protesting wrestlers could return awards and medals
You protested in January and in April the second protest began. How have your views changed?
When we came to protest in January, we felt that our voices would be heard. On the third day, we were told that all our demands would be met. The Oversight Committee was given the time to come out with their findings. But though we waited, nothing happened. We kept calling to find out what happened, but nobody answered our calls. Then we heard that there was a tournament (national open ranking) in his (WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan’s) backyard and he was at the event. We got to know from sources that Brij Bhushan has got a clean chit (from the Oversight Committee).
So this time, we will not believe any assurances given to us. We have two demands that have to be met —the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and a clean-up of the federation with new members.
This time I have spoken to so many women. At least 100 women (from different walks of life) have come to meet me and have told me how they are suffering because they can’t raise their voices and no FIR is registered even if they complain. These women have thanked us for speaking up and we have also been inspired by their stories of struggles.
What were you promised when you decided to call off your protest in January?
We met sports minister Anurag Thakur and told him all the problems — from sexual harassment to other problems in the federation. The girls told him about their personal problems also. Then he said you tell the (Oversight) committee all this and we will set everything right. But there seems to be no result. We have lost faith in the Oversight Committee. 10 to 12 people have complained to the Oversight Committee.
What did the committee members ask for or discuss when alleged victims complained?
They wanted proof like pictures and voice recordings. What the victims have said is that if an incident happens with anyone, will a person know that it is going to happen? Can a person secretly record? If a woman knows she is going to be sexually harassed then that woman won’t go to that place at all, right? When a woman gives a statement that she is sexually harassed it is like she is giving evidence. No self-respecting woman will give a false statement that she has been sexually harassed. We still have faith that a fair investigation will be done by the police.
What resulted in just seven wrestlers filing complaints with the police when nearly 12 appeared before the Oversight Committee?
A lot of girls are not strong enough. They are worried that their parents will object or that society will get to know them. Not everyone can face such things. The families of the seven girls who have complained have supported them. Those who decided not to file police complaints are also supporting us. To file a police complaint is the personal choice of a girl.
But why did the complainants decide to complain only years after the alleged incidents?
A lot of girls are sexually harassed be it when they are travelling by public transport or at times even in a school. But girls don’t have the courage to speak up immediately. Only when they grow up and realise what happened to them do they have the courage to speak up. When women wrestlers got the courage, they spoke up. And against such a powerful and well-connected person like Brij Bhushan, to say that he was involved (in sexual harassment) requires a lot of courage. We decided that it was time to speak up about sexual harassment.
Once the police complaints were filed, what kind of reactions happened?
Girls who complained received threats and even the minor’s (complainant) family was threatened. There was an attempt to approach the school in which the minor studied in order to try and change her date of birth to show that she is not a minor. So that a complaint cannot be made under POCSO. Other girls have also got phone calls.
How do you look at the investigations done by the police so far?
See, the pace is very slow. Complaints were made on April 21 and it took about six days for an FIR to be registered. And from April 28th to May 17th… the probe is still going on. We are waiting to see how much effort is being put to save Brij Bhushan. The accused is very powerful, so I guess there is pressure on the police.
Haven’t you politicised the protests by allowing people from across parties, farmer groups and worker unions to use it as a platform to criticise the government?
These are all diversionary tactics being spread by people who want us to fail. We don’t support any political party. It is not about one state or one religion. When we win medals, people say we belong to the country. But when we are in this situation then things like the protesting wrestlers are from ‘one family, one state’ all come up.
If Brij Bhushan is not arrested, are you ready to return the medals or the awards you have received?
See, the government of India has given us these awards. But what is the point of these awards if no action is taken? We have been sitting in Jantar Mantar for 25 days… if nothing happens (Brij Bhushan is not arrested) despite our complaints then what is the point of medals or awards?
