Dauntless And Decided: Wrestlers’ Lengthy Battle For Dignity

“Speak about Beti Bachao motion that’s meant to save lots of the ladies however what we’re we doing if we will’t even give them a fundamental democratic proper of being heard,” says swimmer Nisha Millet in a dialog with FII. “Is that this nation below dictatorship?” wrote Sakshi Malik in her tweet after mentioning the way it took the Delhi police seven days to register an FIR (First info report) towards Brij Bhushan whereas it didn’t even take them seven hours to file the report towards the protestors. Wrestlers demanding the arrest of their president Brij Bhushan who’s accused of sexually harassing ladies wrestlers have been not too long ago manhandled by the Delhi Police throughout their peaceable protest. 

Whereas Mr. Modi was busy inaugurating the brand new parliament constructing with out the presence of the President and many of the opposition, most of the protesting wrestlers had been briefly detained by Delhi Police and their campsite was cleared after they tried to maneuver in the direction of India’s new parliament constructing. 

Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, and Asian Video games champion Vinesh Phogat together with different protesters were booked for rioting and obstructing public servants within the discharge of responsibility after confronting the safety personnel. The Delhi Police cleared off tents, mattresses, and each different merchandise from the protest web site on the Jantar Mantar on Sunday. 

The remedy that the wrestlers have obtained from the central authorities and state officers has shaken the whole nation. Whereas these wrestlers who’ve represented India on worldwide platforms and have introduced accolades for the nation have been handled badly, BJP MP Brij Bhusan was cordially invited to the brand new parliament inauguration. 

Wrestlers have been on a dharna at Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding the arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. After the disturbing incident on Sunday, wrestlers on Tuesday launched an announcement, that was to throw their medals into the Ganga River in Haridwar. 

They mentioned in a statement, that they’d first thought of returning their medals to the president and the prime minister however had been upset that they’d not spoken in regards to the protests even as soon as. They additional added, ‘These medals are our life and soul… We really feel there’s no that means to having these medals round our necks anymore’.

Nonetheless, they had been satisfied by influential farming group Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Naresh Tikait to not throw the medals in Ganga but. Naresh Tikait knowledgeable the press that he was giving 5 days to the federal government to take motion. 

The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and The United World Wrestling have condemned the way in which India’s wrestlers had been handled. 

Whereas IOC has demanded an investigation on sexual harassment accusations raised by the Indian wrestlers towards Mr. Bhushan, the United World Wrestling has criticised the “lack of outcomes” within the investigations towards Bhushan and has reminded IOA of their promise in April to conduct the WFI election inside 45 days. 

We, as a nation, ought to come collectively in assist of the wrestlers. If this Gunda behaviour by the right-wing BJP social gathering and his MP continues, then it is going to shake the democratic energy of the nation. From AAP to Congress, many opposition events have come ahead in assist of the wrestlers. Opposition events have slammed the Centre for not taking motion towards Bhushan. 

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday slammed the federal government over the problem of expenses of sexual harassment by ladies wrestlers towards the WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh and requested whether or not POCSO and fast arrest apply to all accused aside from Singh as a result of he belongs to the BJP. 

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale filed a grievance with the Nationwide Human Rights Fee accusing the Delhi Police of “brutally manhandling and assaulting the unarmed and peacefully protesting wrestlers”. In a tweet, Mr. Gokhale mentioned that he had filed the grievance on behalf of his social gathering.

The treatment of wrestlers by Delhi Police on Sunday has obtained quite a lot of criticism from folks from the sports activities fraternity together with Javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, former shooter Abhinav Bindra, Footballer Sunil Chhetri, boxer Vijendra Singh, and cricketer Anil Kumble. 

Vijendra Singh mentioned, ‘I’m with ladies wrestlers. If want be, I’ll even surrender my medal’. 

Contrastingly, quite a lot of cricketers, the folks within the discipline of sports activities who maintain robust affect over the general public, haven’t mentioned something on the problem. 

All of us stand with the wrestlers. The entire nation stands with them. I believe it’s ridiculous that Mr. Brij Bhushan who’s a sitting MP has been allowed to get away free and the women who’re protesting peacefully, sitting out within the rains… these are Olympians, world champions, and youthful wrestlers who’ve been dropped at life with these critical crimes going down and there’s a minor additionally concerned.

Olympic and former swimming champion Nisha Millet

In an interview with FII, Olympic and former swimming champion Nisha Millet mentioned that “All of us stand with the wrestlers. The entire nation stands with them. I believe it’s ridiculous that Mr. Brij Bhushan who’s a sitting MP has been allowed to get away free and the women who’re protesting peacefully, sitting out within the rains… these are Olympians, world champions, and youthful wrestlers who’ve been dropped at life with these critical crimes going down and there’s a minor additionally concerned.“

“These ladies have been arrested, manhandled in public and all they’re attempting to do is get their voice heard. I believe it’s about time authorities hears their voices, IOA hears their voice. Even Worldwide Wrestling Federation have made it very clear that they wish to see some motion that’s going down. Now Brij Bhushan was referred to as as a particular invitee down the street to the brand new parliament and right here the women who had been referred to as to PM’s home for dinner after they gained medals for the nation are handled this fashion. It’s shameful. Which means All the pieces that has been finished is for publicity’s sake. They don’t actually care about their daughters. They talked in regards to the beti bachao motion that’s meant to save lots of the ladies however what we’re we doing if we will’t even give them a fundamental democratic proper of being heard? Free speech to spotlight some wrongdoing.

“The one good factor now’s that the entire nation has taken discover. Numerous athletes are supporting wrestlers and I believe much more ought to try this as properly together with ex and present athletes. All of us have to talk out towards the injustice. Just like the wrestlers, the entire nation shouldn’t relaxation until we see the perpetrators are being tied for crimes they’re accused of,” Nisha Provides.

As a mom of two younger children who’re stepping into aggressive swimming and equally you wish to know that every one the younger ladies who’re stepping into completely different sports activities together with wrestling, ladies and boys are protected against any type of sexual harassment. There must be a particular code that’s introduced up. Possibly a particular department that appears into crimes like this. As a result of that is taking place in several sports activities, at completely different ranges, to completely different age teams. And never simply to the women however to younger boys additionally. We have to be sure that this doesn’t occur. Sports activities folks don’t have to go to the prolong to immerse their hard-earned Olympic medals within the Ganga river simply to elucidate folks how critical the problem is.

Olympic and former swimming champion Nisha Millet

On the way forward for sports activities in India, she additional added, “As a mom of two younger children who’re stepping into aggressive swimming and equally you wish to know that every one the younger ladies who’re stepping into completely different sports activities together with wrestling, ladies and boys are protected against any type of sexual harassment. There must be a particular code that’s introduced up. Possibly a particular department that appears into crimes like this. As a result of that is taking place in several sports activities, at completely different ranges, to completely different age teams. And never simply to the women however to younger boys additionally. We have to be sure that this doesn’t occur. Sports activities folks don’t have to go to the prolong to immerse their hard-earned Olympic medals within the Ganga river simply to elucidate folks how critical the problem is.” 

That is the brand new low for Mr. Modi and the BJP. It’s nothing in need of heartbreaking to see the wrestlers, the identical individuals who purchased pleasure within the nation being handled like grime whereas Mr. Prime Minister continues to guard their sexual harasser.

If something constructive has come out of it, it’s that an increasing number of folks have now realised what BJP and Mr. Modi are all about. And, I consider, it’s the most vital step for us all if we wish to stay a democracy: To reunite and name out Mr. Modi and his social gathering’s bluff. It’s to know when he’s turning us towards one another or when he’s distracting us from an actual difficulty along with his spiritual agendas.

If we wish to shield our ladies from sexual harassment and encourage participation in sports activities, all of us want to face up for the injustice on the wrestlers protesting for a extremely essential trigger. 

The braveness that our wrestlers have proven is commendable and essential that we assist them on this tough time when the Prime Minister of India has turned his again on them to guard his MP.

Nobody ought to be denied the fundamental democratic proper to speech, not to mention the highest wrestlers of our nation. Although it’s anticipated from Mr. Modi to proceed to assist his Gunda MP, it’s a disgrace because the Prime Minister of a democracy like India to be taking these steps.