New Delhi: The wrestlers who are demanding action against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Singh have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to their ‘mann ki baat‘.
Several wrestlers who have won medals at prestigious international tournaments resumed their protest against the WFI chief on April 23, three months after ending their dharna after an oversight committee was probed to examine allegations of sexual harassment. While the report has not yet been made public, the wrestlers say it has not been able to do them justice.
According to the news agency PTI, the wrestlers said on Wednesday, April 26, that they are “surprised that PM Modi felicitates them and clicks pictures with them when they win medals but now he has turned a blind eye to their plight when they are on road, seeking justice”.
“PM Modi sir talks about ‘Beti Bachao’ and ‘Beti Padhao’, and listens to everyone’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Can’t he listen to our ‘mann ki baat’? He invites us to his home when we win medals and gives us a lot of respect and calls us his daughters. Today, we appeal to him that he listens to our ‘Mann Ki Baat’,” said Sakshi Malik, who won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Malik also asked why Union women development minister Smriti Irani was silent. “We are not being allowed [by Delhi Police] to prepare food and train, why are you silent? I just want to say that you come here, listen to us and support us,” added Malik.
Vinesh Phogat, who has won multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games and Wrestling Championships, told PTI that the protesting wrestlers do not have the telephone numbers of people who can help in reaching out to the prime minister. “So we are appealing to PM Modi through [the] media to raise issues. Maybe he can then listen to your cries. Our souls are almost dead, maybe he will see,” she said, according to the news agency.
“He does his programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ but has he, even for a minute given a thought to our ‘Mann ki Baat’, how much dilemma, does he think we face that daughters of the nation are sitting on the roads and are on the cusp of quitting wrestling by standing against a big criminal?” she continued.
Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, also appealed to Prime Minister Modi to “do justice” to the daughters of India.
The wrestlers told The Wire‘s Arfa Khanum Sherwani on Tuesday that many of them were receiving threatening calls. They said that the names of the complainants have been leaked to Singh, and they are concerned for the safety of the victims.
Vinesh Phogat asked all athletes to extend support. “Can’t we put greed, fear and self-interest behind us? I appeal to all sportspersons of the nation, Olympic medallists, national medallists and world championship medallists to come together and stay united. If we come together, there is no reason why we can’t be number one nation in Olympics one day,” she said, according to PTI.
Satya Pal Malik extends support
Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik met the wrestlers on Wednesday and said “it was a matter of shame” that athletes have been forced to take to the streets to fight for justice.
“When our daughters win medals and unfurl the tri-colour, at that time very shamelessly, we invite them for tea to honour them and to click pictures with them, and today they are on road. We should drown in shame,” Malik said, according to PTI.
“I appeal to all of you that you support them till their fight ends and this gathering should get bigger and bigger,” Malik said.
गार्डियन 🙏#SatyapalMalik ji.#WFI #JantarMantar #Delhi pic.twitter.com/qRm9Q27szq
— Alka Lamba 🇮🇳 (@LambaAlka) April 26, 2023
Malik, who has been critical of the Modi government recently, said it was unfortunate that women wrestlers are asked to provide evidence of sexual exploitation.
“It is not just your fight, it is a battle for dignity of our daughters. Chaudhary Charan Singh used to say that if a woman is complaining of sexual exploitation, she should not be questioned and no evidence should be demanded from her. We must accept and trust what they are saying,” he said, according to PTI.
“You (wrestlers) will emerge victorious, the entire country is with you,” he added.