The protest by the country's top wrestlers against wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Singh over sexual harassment charges entered day seven today. The wrestlers questioned the government inquiry, saying details of the probe, including the name of an underage accuser, have been leaked.
Politicians such as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Minister Atishi have met the wrestlers to express their support as well.
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal met the protesters and asked people to support the country's top athletes in their efforts.
"The athletes have made India proud on the international stage. But for a week they have been forced to protest at Jantar Mantar. Why? Because a big politician allegedly did wrong things to women and our sisters who have made the country proud," Kejriwal, standing with the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, told reporters.
The Congress general secretary hit out at the Delhi Police for not providing a copy of the First Information Report, or FIR, filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
"When these girls get medals, everyone tweets, say they are our country's pride but now when they are sitting on the road and seeking to be heard, saying they have been wronged, no one is ready to listen to them. If FIRs have been filed, their copy should be shared with them," she said.
She also called for Singh to be sacked as WFI chief.
"See, there are serious allegations against this person, he should first resign and be removed from the post. Till he is in that post, he will continue to exert pressure and keep destroying people's careers. If that person is there on a post through which he can destroy the careers of wrestlers, harass them and exert pressure, then what is the meaning of FIRs and investigation," she said.
Earlier, AAP member and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi had claimed that Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur called the protesting wrestlers as "indisciplined", adding, "Chullu bhar paani mein doob marna chahiye uss khel mantri ko" (That Sports Minister should be ashamed of himself)."
Hitting back at the Delhi minister, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said Atishi was "lying".
The Delhi Police yesterday filed two cases against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief after the wrestlers complained to the Supreme Court. One of the FIRs is over a complaint of sexual harassment by a minor, filed under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which rules out bail.
The wrestlers have said they will continue their sit-in protest, demanding the "immediate arrest" of the WFI chief. "We respect the Supreme Court's order, but we don't have faith in the Delhi Police. This fight is not for an FIR. This fight is to punish people like him. He needs to be in jail and stripped of his portfolios," the wrestlers said.
Singh, who is also a BJP MP, welcomed the Supreme Court's order to file the police case into allegations of sexual harassment against him.
"I am totally innocent. Will cooperate with any inquiry… Their (protesters) demands are changing constantly. Resigning would mean accepting the charges. Resignation is not a big deal but not as a criminal, I am not a criminal," Singh said at a news briefing.
