The protests which started in late January in New Delhi, brought into the multiple allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against the WFI chief.
Forty-six days after resuming their fight against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh who is accused of sexual harassment, protesting wrestlers agreed to pause their stir – until today, June 15 – on the assurance from the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet against Singh would be filed.
The protests which started in late January in New Delhi, brought into focus the multiple allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against the WFI chief.
Women-led organisations, farmer organisations and opposition leaders extended solidarity with the Olympic medallists. Despite the widespread support the protests amassed, the wrestlers have continued to allege that no significant action has been taken against Brij Bhushan who continues to attend meetings and make public appearances.
Wrestlers, led by Olympic bronze medal winners Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, first took to the streets of New Delhi against Singh and several coaches of the sport’s governing body on January 18. They accused Singh of sexually harassing female athletes.
Following government assurance that an oversight committee would look into the allegations, the wrestlers called off the initial protests on January 20.
But Malik, who was India’s first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal, said withdrawing the January protest was a “mistake” as the report by the committee was not made public.
The agitation resumed in April following what the protesters claimed was government inaction. Braving extreme weather conditions, police restrictions and limited government response, the wrestlers ate, slept and trained at the protest site in Jantar Mantar since April 23.
The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against Brij Bhushan - one under POCSO Act and another that includes WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar. They are booked under IPC Sections 354-A (making sexually coloured remarks) and 354-D (stalking).
The FIRs contained a minimum of two instances of Singh demanding sexual favours for professional assistance, 15 incidents of sexual harassment that included 10 episodes of inappropriate touching, molestation that included running hands over breasts, touching the navel; several instances of intimidation including stalking.
However, Singh continued to make public appearances even so far as to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the same day, barely a stone’s throw away, horrific scenes emerged wherein Delhi Police detained top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, while they attempted to march towards the new Parliament.
The wrestlers, along with prominent khap panchayats from several states, had planned a ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ at the new Parliament House building. They were pushed, shoved and dragged into buses before being taken into custody.
"Seven days to file an FIR against Singh, but under seven hours to file an FIR against us," the wrestlers said after the Delhi police registered an FIR against them under relevant sections including 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Deeply disappointed by the way the police had detained them and then filed FIRs against them, the wrestlers announced that they will go to Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to 'immerse their medals' in the River Ganga. After nearly two hours near the banks of the river, the sobbing wrestlers were talked out of it.
Days later, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik led a delegation of protesting wrestlers to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s residence for a discussion on their demands. Following an almost six-hour long meeting the wrestlers stated that they would not stage any protest until June 15.
Furthermore, they said that the government had assured them that the police investigation on Brij Bhushan would be concluded by then and the pending WFI elections conducted by June 30.
The meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s meeting with the wrestlers was the first of such interactions to be arranged publicly since the second protest began on April 23. .Why did the government take close to five months to speak to the protesting wrestlers? -- is a question that many asked.
Vinesh Phogat also expressed disappointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not paying heed to wrestlers' complaints.
"It's been emotionally draining, the PM has not said anything about this case," Phogat said.
"The fact that no one was listening to us forced me and others to start a public protest as we wanted the nation to know how top athletes were being mistreated," Phogat said.
With the deadline ending today, it remains to be seen whether the wrestlers will get justice or will they take to the streets once again.