At today’s protesting wrestlers’ meeting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offered her support for their call for action against what they claim to be superiors’ sexual harassment of female athletes. The wrestlers are protesting in Jantar Mantar and calling for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), over allegations of sexual harassment.
The Congress national secretary criticised the Delhi Police for withholding a copy of the First Information Report, or FIR, lodged against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at the protest location.
“I have no expectations from the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), since if he is concerned about these wrestlers, why has he not spoken to or met them yet. She questioned why the government was attempting to defend Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Following a directive from the Supreme Court, the Delhi Police on Friday filed two complaints against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president. Under the strict Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which forbids bail, one of the FIRs relates to an allegation of sexual harassment made by a juvenile.
According to sources, the Delhi Police would actively pursue the case.
The wrestlers declared they will continue their sit-in protest in spite of the police promise to take action, calling for the “immediate arrest” of the WFI chief.
“We respect the Supreme Court’s ruling, but we have no confidence in the Delhi Police. There is no FIR involved in this fight. People like him are being punished by this fight. The wrestlers argued that he should be imprisoned and stripped of his financial holdings.
Priyanka Gandhi criticised the government earlier this week for allegedly ignoring the requests of athletes who uphold the nation’s honour. She claimed that such views are silenced “when the arrogance of a party and its leaders” is at an all-time high.
At Jantar Mantar earlier this week, Congress leaders Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, and Udit Raj joined the protesting wrestlers to show their support.
The Supreme Court’s directive to file a police report into charges of sexual harassment against Mr. Singh, who is also a BJP member, was warmly received.
Before deciding to stage a sit-in protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers, according to Mr. Singh, should have waited for the commission tasked with investigating the situation to issue its report.
“I am pleased with the court’s ruling. The Delhi Police will look into the claims, and I am prepared to help them in any manner I can. In this nation, the judiciary is the biggest institution. It is now necessary to submit a first information report (FIR). Additionally, the government stated that it had no issues with submitting a FIR. I don’t exceed the size of the Supreme Court. I appreciate the order,” Mr. Singh told the media.
