Several of India's top wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Jerang Punya and Sakshi Malik, were arrested as they tried to march to the new parliament building in New Delhi as they intensified their protests demanding the arrest of their federation chief over sexual harassment allegations.
The wrestlers arrested on Sunday have been protesting in the capital for a month over a lack of action against Briboshan Sharan Singh, a member of parliament belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party. The protesting athletes demanded his "immediate arrest" and sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, which ordered the police to open a case against him. The MP was accused of harassing several female athletes while leading the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and denied all allegations.
The wrestlers tried to march to India's new parliament building as Modi inaugurated it, but were stopped by hundreds of police officers. Among those arrested were Olympic bronze winners Malik and Punia. Both wrestlers have become national heroes in a country that has long longed for Olympic success. Modi congratulated them when Malik won her medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and Ponya won his medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Now the wrestlers accuse the Modi government of ignoring complaints embarrassing the prime minister, who has introduced himself as a spokesperson for women's rights.
क्या खून पसीना बहाकर देश के लिए मेडल लाना हमारा गुनाह था ? अगर हाँ, तो हमे फाँसी लगा दो
- Sakshi Malik's Team #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/D6LmHHntjq
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023
"They broke the barriers and didn't follow police instructions," senior Delhi police officer Dapendra Pathak told local media, talking about the wrestlers. They broke the law, and that's why they were arrested." Vinesh Vogt, one of the athletes leading the protests, said several cases of sexual harassment had been reported in the past, but Singh was able to hide the accusations or ensure the complainant would not compete again. Wrestling is undoubtedly the most successful Olympic sport in India, in the 76 years since India's independence, it has won 21 medals in individual sports, seven by wrestlers.
This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us! #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/rjrZvgAlSO
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023
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