By Manjeet Sehgal: While wrestlers, protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and demanding his arrest, have found support in Haryana’s opposition parties, the players’ families and khap panchayats, the ruling BJP has distanced itself from the controversy.
The BJP leaders in the state are either avoiding speaking on the issue or claiming that it does not pertain to the state.
Interestingly, the wrestler’s protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar is being led by three wrestlers – all from Haryana, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. Most of the wrestlers protesting the inaction against WFI’s chief are from Haryana.
The Haryana government has refused to take action against the accused, citing jurisdiction.
Also Read | Breaking down the wrestlers’ protest in 5 quick points
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, reacting to the wrestlers’ allegations, expressed his inability to take action in the matter, saying the issue does not pertain to Haryana.
“The Haryana government is aware of the player’s issues but they are not related to Haryana. Hence, no action can be taken. This case belongs to New Delhi and the Central teams. The Supreme Court has directed to register an FIR. The same has been done and the Delhi Police will investigate this issue. Instead of creating pressure, the issue can be settled through talks. An impartial probe will find out whether the allegations levelled are true,” Khattar said.
His reaction came nearly a fortnight after the wrestlers began their protest.
Earlier, in January this year, Khattar had announced his support for the wrestlers, saying his government wouldn’t let their morale down.
“The safety of our women athletes is very important and we take it seriously. We will not let their morale down,” he had then said.
Also Read | Hang me, but don’t stop wrestling: Brij Bhushan Singh amid protests, police case
MAHAVEER PHOGAT THREATENS TO RETURN DRONACHARYA AWARD
Former wrestler and Dronacharya awardee Mahaveer Phogat has threatened to return his award, saying that the ‘daughters’ were not being heard.
“In case justice is denied to the players and they decide to return their medals, I will follow them,” Mahaveer Phogat said.
Also Read | ‘Itni izzat giraoge kya?’ Vinesh Phogat breaks down, says cops pushed protesting wrestlers
On Thursday, Phogat’s daughter and wrestler Geeta Phogat claimed that the Delhi Police had arrested her and her husband Pawan Saroha. Many politicians who tried to meet the protests were stopped and detained by the police.
The Congress leaders, while lashing out at the BJP government, said that Haryana is running nearly a dozen welfare schemes for women’s upliftment, like the Mahila Avam Kishori Samman Yojana and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao missions, but did not take any action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who may not belong to Haryana but the allegations of sexual harassment were being levelled by the state’s own daughters.
“A majority of the wrestlers who are protesting at Jantar Mantar are from Haryana. It is the duty of the state to raise the issue but it is silent not only about the WFI chief but also against its own cabinet minister Sandeep Singh, who is facing sexual harassment charges,” former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.
Also Read | Wrestlers’ protest: No cops were drunk, never used force against wrestlers, says Delhi Police
