'Fight to continue in court and not on the road': Wrestlers on protest against WFI chief

Two months since they took to the streets to protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the agitating grapplers have announced their fight would continue in court and not on roads. The statement came a day after they asserted that they could hit the streets again to resume their agitation.

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia took to Twitter to post identical statements where they said the government has fulfilled its promise of filing a chargesheet against Singh. "In this case, the protest will continue till we get justice but it (fight) will be in court and not on the road," the statement read. 

"Regarding the reform in WFI, the election process, as promised, has begun. We will wait for the fulfilment of promises made by the government regarding the July 11 elections." A few minutes after posting the statement, Vinesh and Sakshee tweeted that they are taking a break from social media for a few days.

Saksee also tweeted a letter they sent to the Sports Ministry seeking the postponement of their trials. The letter was published in response to former wrestler and BJP leader Yogeshwar Dutt's statement expressing disappointment over reports that the Indian Olympic Association’s ad hoc committee had exempted the protesting wrestlers from the initial trials. Dutt, in a video, had questioned the criteria and parameters used to exempt the protesting wrestlers from the trials. He also wondered whether the protest was more about avoiding the trials than addressing allegations of sexual harassment against the WFI chief.

In the letter, the protesting wrestlers urged for the trials to be postponed until after August 10 of this year. She added: "We agitating wrestlers had written a letter only to postpone the trials because we could not practice due to being involved in the movement for the last six months. We understand the seriousness of this matter, so we are sharing this letter with you. The enemy wants to break the unity of the wrestlers. Don’t let him succeed."

The wrestlers also came on live on social media on Saturday against Dutt for questioning the IOA ad-hoc panel's decision to exempt them from Asian Games trials. The wrestlers had asserted that their fight against Singh will continue and they will deliberate how to continue this fight after evaluating the chargesheet filed against Singh. "People are asking us why are we silent. The time (to suspend protest) was till June 15. This fight will continue, whether it is on the mat or off the mat, but the fight for justice will continue," Vinesh had said.

"Till Brij Bhushan is not put behind bars, he doesn't pay for his sins, it will continue. We are waiting for a copy of the charge sheet. We will evaluate if it is strong enough for justice. Whether we will sit on the road or put our lives at stake, we will decide. That's why we are silent. Our fight has not ended," she had said.

Vinesh also alleged that Dutt was targeting them because of his self-interest. "You (Dutt) had scared wrestlers that's why they did not come in the second protest (from April 23). You put pressure on them that they will lose their jobs. People told us that they were with us but they have compulsions that they can't come," Vinesh.

"I will tell you why you are doing this. Brij Bhushan might have offered you the post of WFI President and that's why you have sided with him."

The wrestlers had suspended their protest till June 15 after getting assurance from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet will be filed against Singh by then and none of his family members will be allowed to contest WFI elections.