“Big call will be taken if…”: Vinesh Phogat’s big statement on wrestlers’ protest

Vinesh Phogat, a medalist at both the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games, stated on Sunday that the protesting wrestlers will make a “big call” if Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh is not detained by May 21.

For more than ten days, wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, calling for the arrest of BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh and his removal from office in response to claims of sexual harassment made by the wrestlers.

“The decision that has been taken in this fight for justice, is that if something is not done by May 21, if our demands (to arrest Brijbhushan Sharan Singh) are not met during that period then we will have to take a big call,” said Vinesh to the media.

Their demand to have Brijbhushan Singh arrested, according to Vinesh. Vinesh responded to the protests by saying, “We will compete. If God provides us with a chance, we will definitely take it. Despite the protests, we are still making an effort to train as much as we can, making time for it and organising our training schedule, according to Vinesh.

Security has been stepped up at the Delhi-Ghazipur border ahead of the farmers’ march that will be coming from different states to support the wrestlers who are protesting in the national capital on Sunday. In support of the wrestlers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had announced holding nationwide protests, including in Delhi.

Several leaders of the organisation from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site on May 7, according to an SKM statement on Saturday.

On their future in wrestling amid protests, Vinesh said, “We will compete. If god presents an opportunity before us then we will play definitely. We are still trying to train as much as possible during the protests, trying to find time for it and plan our training schedule,” said Vinesh.

Security has been stepped up at the Delhi-Ghazipur border ahead of the farmers’ march that will be coming from different states to support the wrestlers who are protesting in the national capital on Sunday. In support of the wrestlers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had announced holding nationwide protests, including in Delhi.

Several leaders of the organisation from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar on May 7 and offer support to the protesting wrestlers, according to a statement released by SKM on Saturday.

Speaking on the allegation against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, farmer leader Joginder Singh, at the Tikri border, said, “They are in power and it is very difficult to stand against a person who is misusing his power and position for so long, but we will fight against it.”

“Government’s job is to stop us but we will go to the place where we want to go. If they try to stop us, it will cost them. There are no plans of staying here, if government and administration stop us, then we’ll have to stay here,” he told ANI.

Notably, SKM was the driving force behind the one-year-long farmer protest against the since-repealed farm laws on the outskirts of the national capital.

On April 23, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshee Mallik returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar and asserted that despite a complaint of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh being made by six female wrestlers and a minor at the Connaught Place Police Station, the Delhi Police did not file an FIR. The protesting grapplers further demanded that the Sports Ministry release the Oversight Committee’s report for public consumption.

Following the Supreme Court’s notice, the Delhi Police filed two FIRs on April 28.

Leading wrestlers organised a protest against the WFI president earlier this year, and the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports subsequently announced the creation of an “oversight committee” to look into claims made against the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and a few coaches. The wrestlers who are protesting have made it clear that they won’t stop until Brij Bhushan is arrested and removed as the head of the WFI.