Star Wrestlers of India manhandled and detained!
- Zoya Ali
- May 30, 2023
- 4 min read
How it started?
In January 2023: Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling Olympian, Commonwealth gold-medalist and Asian Games gold medalist) started getting calls from young women wrestlers expressing their concern about the National Wrestling Camp that was being organised in Lucknow. They informed Vinesh Phogat of the unsafe and vulnerable atmosphere they would have to deal with. At the time two girls came forward and told Phogat about Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and how he had sexually assaulted them.
Who is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is the Presidnet of the Wrestling Fedration of India(WFI) and a Member of Parliment (MP). He is a very powerful man and has gotten away with a lot; including a murder, which he publically confessed to.
The reputable and widely loved wrestlers of our country took to the streets in January protesting and demanding the ‘immediate arrest’ of Brij Bhushan. Wrestlers: Bajrang Punia (Olympic medalist), Sakshee Malik (Olympic Medalist) and Vinesh Phopgat were at the forefront.
When young wrestlers saw these world-renowned wrestlers fighting for their justice, it gave more of them the strength to open up about their assault. As of now, seven girls have come up (including a minor) who have proof of Brij Bhushan assaulting them. Phoghat claims there is a list of 10-20 girls who have been assaulted by Brij Bhushan, whose names will be released when the time is right.
Brij Bhushan responded to all the allegations calling them baseless and unproven, saying, “If they can prove even one charge, if they have a video, if I have called anyone, if they have proof, I am ready to be hanged.”
Protests ended in January as Olympic selections were about to start and the wrestlers were assured that action against Brij Bhishan would be taken. Moreover, The Sports Ministry of India had also cancelled the National Camps in Lucknow.
By the end of April, no action had been taken which urged our wrestlers to take to the streets, put their careers on the line and fight for justice. They asked for the disbandment of the entire Wrestling Federation as it was built on a foundation of corruption and misconduct.
The Supreme Court also got involved in the matter and asked the Delhi Police to take action before 28th April. The wrestler has publicly asked Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Home Minister, Amit Shah to meet the seven wrestlers who are accusing Brij Bushan (with proof). The protesters asked the entire country to support them to get justice.
Recent News on the Protest:
Yesterday, 28th May the wrestlers of our country started a protest on the day of the inauguration of the new Parliament Building. The wrestlers along with their followers attempted to march down to Jantar Mantar on the day of its inauguration. The attempt was ceased by the Delhi Police; all the protestors were manhandled and put onto a bus to be taken to prison. India’s star wrestlers, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were detained by the Delhi Police, on the basis of ‘violating law and order’.
Sakshi Malik took to Twitter and said, “It took seven days for the Delhi Police to register an FIR against sexual harasser Brij Bhushan, and it didn’t even take seven hours to register an FIR against us for peacefully protesting… The whole world is watching how the government is treating its players.”
Many star players of India are outraged and speaking up including Neeraj Chopra.
Putting this into perspective:
It is high time that India’s culture of abuse and rape culture is brought to the forefront. It is high time we empower women who have been abused to speak up. It was high time someone did something about the struggles that women have to go through just to follow their dreams. I hope the action of these world-renowned wrestlers fighting for justice is just the beginning of the empowerment and justice of so many more. More than all, I hope for justice for all the girls.
This is the reality we all ignore, rape case, after rape case, we are left surprised and flabbergasted and filled with disgust. Brij Bhushan, the President of the WFI abused these girls he was supposed to empower. Several cases of coaches harassing wrestlers have also come to the forefront. One such case that Phoghat spoke about left me wordless, a coach was suspended for 10 days for harassing a girl, but he was brought back after 7 days and was made the head coach.
My heart goes out to all the wrestlers who have fought a battle they didn't need to fight but chose to fight to empower the sisters, mothers, and daughters of our country, India.
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