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Star wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment (File) The wrestlers had asked the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing on their request to file a case against the head of the Indian Wrestling Federation and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Delhi Police at the request of the wrestlers claiming that no case had been filed for their charges. "There are serious allegations made in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India in international games regarding sexual harassment inflicted on them. The matter must be heard by this court," a court headed by the Chief Justice of India , D Y Chandrachud.
The wrestlers, who are protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, have claimed that they will stay put until a case is filed on the matter. Among them are star fighters like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia.
Brij Bhushan Singh, who has denied the sexual misconduct allegations and indicated he would fight fiercely to prove his innocence, posted a video yesterday saying he wishes he would embrace death on the day he felt powerless.
“Friends, the day that I reflect on what I have won or lost, and feel that I no longer have the strength to fight; the day I feel powerless, I will wish for death because I will not live such a life. Instead of living such a life, I wish death would embrace me," said the leader of the fighting corps accused in the video.
The protesting fighters have also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for time to discuss the charges against his party's MP. "PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao', and listens to everyone's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Can't you hear our 'mann ki baat'?" Olympian Sakshi Malik said in a recent media interaction, referring to the prime minister's monthly radio show.
The head of the Indian Olympic Association, PT Usha, criticized the public protest by the wrestlers. Stating that their protest "amounts to indiscipline", he said they should have waited for a report from a committee looking into their allegations.
The protesting wrestlers said they were hurt by Ms. Usha's statement and sought her support. Asian Games medalist Vinesh Phogat claimed that he even called her to discuss the matter, but she did not call him back, hinting that she might be "under some kind of pressure."
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who formed the committee to investigate the charges, said yesterday that the government was on the side of the players and he himself spoke to the protesters for 12 hours. The committee published its report on April 5, but the ministry has yet to make its findings public.
The fighters first took to the streets in January with their accusations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other trainers, but withdrew their protest after being assured by Thakur. They returned to the capital with more protests this week, claiming that no action had been taken against their charges.
