Three months after they first staged a sit-in protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the wrestlers are back at Jantar Mantar, spending the night at the historic site.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh spent Sunday night at Jantar Mantar, seeking action on the fresh police complaints filed with the Delhi Police against Singh.
As many as seven women wrestlers filed fresh sexual harassment complaints against Singh at the Connaught Place police station in Central Delhi on April 21. Though the Delhi Police claimed it was conducting an inquiry into the issue, the wrestlers said a First Information Report (FIR) is yet to be filed.
The wrestlers have also demanded that the government make public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated the allegations against the WFI chief.
The oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer M C Mary Kom, was formed in January after Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur promised an inquiry into the allegations against Singh. The wrestlers, including Sakshee Malikkh and Ravi Dahiya conducted a three-day sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar to draw attention to their plight.
'Till his arrest'
"We want the report, which has recorded women wrestlers' statements, to be public. It's a sensitive issue, one of the complainants is a minor girl," Malikkh told reporters. She added that the names of the complainants must not be leaked.
"We won't leave from here until Brij Bhushan is arrested," Bajrang Punia added.
Wrestlers prepare for night stay during their protest dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi | PTI
Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat alleged that they weren't getting any response from the government. "We are going to sleep and eat here till we get justice. She also took to Twitter to share a picture of the wrestlers sleeping on the footpath with the caption "From podium to footpath."
"How long is it going to take for the (government) committee to submit its report? It has already been three months and we are still waiting to hear from them. Will the report come out after the girls, who have filed complaints, die?" questioned world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat.
"We are tired of asking the government to release the findings... We have nothing to do with the (WFI) election process. We are more concerned about our careers. The (Paris) Olympics are upon us and we want to begin preparations in right earnest," she added.
DCW steps in
As protest rages, the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has stepped in, stating that the panel received a complaint from the women wrestlers alleging that the Delhi Police were yet to respond to their complaints against Singh.
According to the DCW, the complainant alleged that no action has been taken by the Station House Officer (SHO) at Connaught Place police station. When the complainant contacted the SHO, the latter informed her that no FIR had been filed and that action shall be taken on the complaint post-Monday.
The complainant added that when she asked him for assurance that the FIR shall be filed by Monday, he answered that he could not guarantee it.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer acknowledged that they have received seven complaints so far. He said some of the complaints pertain to Delhi and some from outside the city. "We are conducting an inquiry. No FIR has been registered yet," he said.
The DCW has issued notice to the Delhi Police in the matter and sought an action taken report by April 25. "The wrestlers who are agitating have won medals for the country in the Olympics and CWG. They have hoisted the tricolour abroad. Today, when they are protesting, even their food and water are being stopped. Are their demands wrong?" tweeted DCW chief Swati Maliwal in Hindi.
NCP backs wrestlers
Expressing solidarity with the protesters, Sharad Pawar''s NCP said Union ministers Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani should step in to address the concerns raised by the top wrestlers.
"(Youth Affairs And Sports Minister) Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani must intervene immediately and ask the Delhi Police, which works under the Union home ministry, to take immediate action. If they cannot do this for people who have won laurels for our country, then what can common citizens expect?" NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto asked.
(With inputs from PTI)
