‘Jaise jail main daala hua hai… desh yaad rakhega’: Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik claim supporters have been detained

The wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar, about two kilometres from Parliament, said that they will go ahead with their "Mahila Mahapanchayat" near the new building at any cost.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik during a press conference, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (PTI)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Delhi Police on Sunday made it cleared that the protesting wrestlers won’t be allowed near the new Parliament building, which is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We respect our athletes but we will not let there be any disturbance in the inauguration (of new Parliament building),” Dependra Pathak, Special CP, Law & Order, Delhi Police told PTI.

VIDEO | "We respect our athletes but we will not let there be any disturbance in the inauguration (of new Parliament building)," says Dependra Pathak, Special CP, Law & Order, Delhi Police. pic.twitter.com/PUkspM3Ftr

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 28, 2023

The wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar, about two kilometres from Parliament, said that they will go ahead with their “Mahila Mahapanchayat” near the new building at any cost.

जंतर मंतर पर सरेआम लोकतंत्र की हत्या हो रही

एक तरफ़ लोकतंत्र के नये भवन का उद्घाटन किया है प्रधानमंत्री जी ने

दूसरी तरफ़ हमारे लोगों की गिरफ़्तारियाँ चालू हैं. pic.twitter.com/ry5Wv9xn5A

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) May 28, 2023

The agitating wrestlers have demanded the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh who, they alleged, sexually harassed several women grapplers.

To all my international fraternity

Our Prime Minister is inaugurating our new parliament

But on the other hand, Our supporters has been arrested for supporting us.

By arresting people how we can call us “mother of democracy”

India’s daughters are in pain.

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday will begin with an early morning havan and multi-faith prayers followed by the formal opening by Prime Minister Modi.

Representatives of as many as 25 parties and many dignitaries, including chief ministers and ministers, are expected to attend the inauguration.