Sakshi Malik alleges that WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is using his influence to put pressure on the protesting wrestlers to change their statements against him to the police.
The gravest charge against Brij Bhushan, who is a six-time MP of India's ruling party BJP and a political strongman, was sexual harassment of seven wrestlers, including a minor. The Delhi Police have filed two cases against Brij Bhushan so far, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). However, he hasn't been arrested yet.
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After getting assurance from Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday, of a thorough investigation into the sexual harassment allegations, the dissenting Indian wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, suspended their protest.
However, Malik has threatened that they will resume their protests if strong action is not taken against him by June 15 as the government had assured the wrestlers that a charge sheet will be filed by mid-June.
The wrestlers held a gathering, referred to as a 'panchayat,' at Chhotu Ram Dharamshala in Sonepat district. This meeting included the participation of khap (village elders) leaders, farmers, and members of women's organizations who have put their weight behind the wrestlers in their "fight for justice".
“It’s proved, the statements were recorded under Sections 161 and 164 and it changed. We can’t understand,” Sakshi said referring to the withdrawal of sexual harassment charges by a minor, who is one of the seven complainants in the case,
“It is clear that father of the minor was under pressure. Pressure is being built. For how long we will fight then,” she said.
“Bajrang is getting calls, bik jao, toot jao (take bribe, end the protest). Wrong narratives are being set (by media). It breaks our hearts,” she said.
“That is why we had said first arrest him and then investigate. If he is in police custody, he can’t pressurise. Otherwise, one by one, victims will break. Till he is out, an atmosphere of terror will remain.”
“We will not compete in the Asian Games until a proper resolution comes out in this case. You can’t understand the mental agony we are going through everyday,” said Sakshi.
Punia, later asserted that there is no politics involved and their motive remains to get justice through proper judicial methods.
“We had called this panchayat to inform everyone the discussion we had. If a strong action is not taken by June 15, we will resume our protest," he stated while mentioning that the site could be either “Jantar Mantar or Ram Leela Maidan”.
Bajrang slams Delhi Police's decision to take one victim to Brij Bhushan's residence
Delhi Police brought one of the female protesting wrestlers, accompanied by lady constables, to the official residence of the former WFI (Wrestling Federation of India) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to restructure the sequence of events that led to the alleged sexual harassment.
The female wrestler, one of the complainants, was taken to Brij Bhushan's official residence in New Delhi where they spent close to 30 minutes and Phogat was asked to "recall" the places and instances of harassment. In her complaint, the wrestler had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harrasment in 2019.
Punia has hit out at the police for this step and said, "How fair is that you take a girl there to re-create the scene when that man is there inside? You can understand the mental pressure she would have felt,” said Bajrang."
Is Vinesh Phogat backing out?
Vinesh Phogat had not travelled to meet the Union Minister along with Malik and Punia on Wednesday. Her absence during the panchayat meeting as well gave rise to speculations that she has backed out.
However, both Malik and Punia squashed the rumours immediately but gave different reasons for her continued absence.
“Let me tell you that Sakshi, Bajrang and Vinesh are one. Vinesh is handling the legal issue; there is lot of other work as well. Rumours are being spread that we are stepping back. We are one, we are united in our decisions,” said Malik.
Whereas, Punia informed, “Vinesh is unwell that is why she is not here today.”