Delhi Police pressurizing wrestlers to end the strike as a case registered against Brij Bhushan the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), claimed Olympic Medalist Bajrang Punia in his video clip on Instagram.
On Friday, between 11-12 pm, wrestler Bajrang Punia uploaded a video on Instagram. In the video, he mentioned the Delhi Police as they (police) were pressurizing them to end the strike because a case registered against BJP MP and the President of the Wrestling Federation of India Brij Bhushan Singh.
Olympic Medalist Bajrang Punia uploaded a video in which he requested his followers to come online and by mentioning the police, he said that they (Police) cut off the electricity and locked the door, treating them as if they were terrorists.
Further, he added, he spoke to the ACP, and he (ACP) replied “Do whatever you can do”, neither police are allowing them to bring water and food inside, nor the media.
This is the behavior of the Delhi Police. Lakhs of Indians are supporting us, but the police are behaving strangely with us even after we protest peacefully, he said.
The first protest started in Jan 2023 but called off due to the government’s promise to form an inspection committee to investigate the allegation.
Olympic Medalists Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia among other wrestlers resumed the protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, in April 2023.
Demanding the arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, and a report from the government’s committee, claimed that they did nothing to solve their problems.
On April 28th, two FIRs currently registered, one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act and the other for outraging modesty filed against Brij Bhushan by the Delhi Police in the Supreme Court.
The strike is still on because Brij Bhushan is not behind bars even after two FIRs lodged against him and the police pressurizing them to end the strike as the case registered.
This incident of harassment by the prime seat holder drew severe criticism from political leaders, wrestlers, and netizens even as it started trending on social media.
This incident raises many questions among the youth
This incident and protest are not setting a good example among the youth who are dreaming, planning or preparing to take up wrestling and aspire to represent India at the international level.
This raises many questions, especially when the prime seat holder is suspect, whose job is to guide and nurture their goals.