Wrestling Bajrang Punia requests CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat at Jantar Manta protest: 'This is athletes' protest. Don't make it political'
New Delhi/IBNS: CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat was requested to leave the stage with folded hands at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Thursday where over 200 wrestlers are protesting against alleged sexual exploitation and abuse by the wrestling federation chief and several coaches, media reports said.
"Neeche chale jaaiye please (Please get down)... We request you, madam, please don't make this political. It's athletes' protest," Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia told Karat when she arrived at the venue, on the second day of the protest.
#WATCH | CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat asked to step down from the stage during wrestlers' protest against WFI at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/sw8WMTdjsk
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
The President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The wrestlers began their protest at the Jantar Mantar on Wednesday and said they would continue until their demands are met.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP later told NDTV, "We are in the fight against any type of sexual harassment, anything which demeans any section of women. So, we are here to demand that the government take strong action."
"It is extremely unfortunate that they (wrestlers) should be forced to come here and sit on dharna. Any government of any colour should ensure that any complaint by any woman should be acted on and till the inquiry comes to a conclusion, the person accused should be removed," she said.
According to the report, the Left leader reached Jantar Mantar around the same time BJP MP and wrestler Babita Phogat reached the venue with a message from the government.
The country's sports ministry has already asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to respond to the allegations within 72 hours.
Meanwhile, WFI President Brij Bhushan Charan Singh has rejected the allegations, saying that if any wrestler can prove the charges against him he will hang himself.
He has also called Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to clarify the allegations.
Babita Phogat, who is a BJP MP and a part of the Haryana government, said she is a wrestler first.
She assured the players that the BJP government is with the wrestlers and being a part of the government, it is her duty to mediate.
Phogat said she has heard of some incidents of abuse in her career and maintained “there is no smoke without fire".
The protesting voices are important and must be heard, she stressed.
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