Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat said no woman parliamentarian from the ruling party has come to talk to protesting wrestlers. Now, the athletes have decided to write to the women leaders urging them to hear and seek support in their fight for the dignity of women.
“When you talk about the safety of women in this country and helping them fight for their dignity, then we are also your daughters, and we are also fighting for the same dignity,” Vinesh said at a press conference at Jantar Mantar.
Vinesh, joined by top wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, has been protesting in Delhi's Jantar Mantar for 22 days now, demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment and exploitation.
Wrestlers pen open letter
Phogat said they will also give letters by hand or via e-mail to all women parliamentarians of the ruling party to come and support them.
“We have left our lives and sports aside and decided to fight for our dignity. We have been fighting for justice for the last 20 days at Jantar Mantar. As per our observations, his power has not only broken the backbone of the administration but also made our government deaf and blind,” the letter added.
"I would like to tell any other young women that are waiting for getting justice but are hesitating to raise their voices, leave your house and speak up, come back and tell me if the entire country does not stand with you”
Meanwhile, union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday urged the wrestlers to end their demonstration and have faith in law and order, adding that the Supreme Court has intervened in the matter and the Delhi Police is recording statements as well.
Thakur's request comes after an ad-hoc committee was formed to run the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday as per the written directive from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
The IOA, through its letter on May 12, asked the secretary general of WFI to hand over the official documents, including financial instruments to its ad-hoc panel, making it clear the outgoing office bearers shall have no role in the running of the federation.
The ad-hoc committee is also tasked with conducting elections for WFI's executive committee within 45 days after its formation.
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