One week after India's star wrestlers reignited their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the agitation continues despite bad weather.
The DMK on Sunday became the latest political party to extend their support. Rajya Sabha MP M. Mohamed Abdulla represented Tamil Nadu's ruling party when he met with the wrestlers on Sunday at Jantar Mantar. DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin took to Twitter to express his support.
"It is heartbreaking to see Indian Wrestlers who brought honour to India, are forced to protest, for safeguarding self-respect in face of sexual harassment. Today, on behalf of DMK, Thiru.@pudugaiabdulla MP, met them and expressed our solidarity. We will stand by our wrestlers for justice," he said in a tweet.
The day also witnessed a renewed vigour as former India cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived at the venue. Sidhu, speaking from the venue, demanded "custodial interrogation" of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The heavy rain that lashed Delhi on Sunday evening too did nothing to douse the fiery spirit of the protestors. Farmers and khap members braved the downpour to stay by the wrestlers' side.
Though the mattresses were quickly removed from the road and put inside a makeshift shed made of multiple waterproof tarpaulin sheets, wrestlers vowed to stay where they are.
"We will not move from here. We will continue to sleep here even if it means sleeping on wet mattresses," Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said. "The weather is going to be like this for the next two days but we are ready to face these obstacles."
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is yet to record the statement of protesting women wrestlers even after three days since filing the FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Though police are likely to question Singh, no official notice has been served to him yet, officials said on Monday.
Brij Bhushan's allegations
WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh | PTI
The accused WFI chief has alleged that the protest was not against him but against the BJP. Calling the protest a paid one, Brij Bhushan said the protest is "expanding like Shaheen Bagh".
Shaheen Bagh was the venue of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in 2019.
"Tukde-tukde gang, the forces which were active in Shaheen Bagh, in the farmers' protest, those who attack PM Modi from time to time, attack the party, all those forces are visible," he said.
"I have been saying right from the beginning that my resignation is not their target, that is their excuse, their target is the party (BJP). When on their demand an FIR has been filed...the way they are inviting political parties, ...Priyanka Gandhi reached, her husband reached, Malik sahab (Satyapal Malik) reached, Kejriwal reached, the way people are coming together, abusive language is being used against the Prime Minister...is this an agitation of players? it is not," he told ANI.
