'Fight Will Continue in Court, Not on Streets': Wrestlers Call Off Protest

Six months after they first sat on a protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing the sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing female grapplers, the wrestlers have now called off their protest.

In a statement posted on social media, the protesting wrestlers have mentioned that they will continue fighting the battle against Singh – but in the court, and not on the streets.

Read the statement here:

pic.twitter.com/qhfsJVeKeY

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) June 25, 2023

Wrestlers Call Off Protest

In a meeting with the government, protesting wrestlers were promised that a charge sheet would be filed against Brij Bhushan Singh by June 15. On Sunday, Sakshee Malikkh said that since the chargesheet was presented in court on June 15, grapplers have decided to call off the protest.

Delhi Police has filed a 1500-page chargesheet against Singh, booking the sidelined chief for offences under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) IPC; whilst the POCSO charges levied against Singh were quashed, following the recording of a second statement from the minor wrestler.

Further referring to the election of WFI’s new president and executive committee, which is scheduled to be held on 11 July, the wrestlers have mentioned they will wait for the implementation of assurances made by the government.

The wrestlers, who got massive support from farmer leaders, khap panchayats and several others, sat on Jantar Mantar for 38 days before Delhi Police detained them for violating law and order on May 28.

They first came to Jantar Mantar on January 18 and suspended their three-day sit-in after Union Minister Anurag Thakur promised to probe their allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against 66-year-old Singh, who is a six-time BJP MP.

Suggested Reading: Our Women Wrestlers Are Fighting The Good Fight. But Why Is No One Cheering?