Protesting wrestlers march to Hanuman Mandir, will also visit Bangla Sahib Gurdwara
New Delhi. Protesting wrestlers and their supporters marched to the Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place here on Wednesday, demanding the arrest of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers, who were camping at Jantar Mantar for the last 25 days, went to the Hanuman temple on Tuesday. On this occasion, apart from Bhim Army President Chandrashekhar Azad, there were hundreds of supporters along with the wrestlers. The protesting wrestlers will also go to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara to pay obeisance on Wednesday. India’s top wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold-winner Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here for the last 25 days. They are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
Addressing the media after the march, Bajrang appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in the matter and ensure justice for the women wrestlers. He said, “I feel our voice is not reaching Prime Minister Modi. We request him and the Home Minister to ensure justice for us. He gave the slogan ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’. That’s why we request that these daughters get justice. These are also the daughters of the country.” He said, “We have come to the temple to seek the blessings of Bajrang Bali so that the daughters of our country get justice at the earliest.”
World Championship medalist Vinesh said, “It is the misfortune of our country. Will every girl in the country have to protest to get justice? Can’t we punish the guilty? Our country cannot be so weak.” The people involved in this march were holding banners with slogans like ‘We are with our players’ and ‘Arrest Brij Bhushan’. Sakshi tweeted, “We need volunteers for videography/ photography who can support us in our fight for justice. Please DM if you are interested in supporting us.
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The wrestlers on Tuesday indicated that they may take their protest to Ramlila Maidan to make it a ‘national movement’. Chandrasekhar had reached Jantar Mantar on Monday evening in support of the wrestlers, but was asked by the authorities to leave the venue in the night. He left and returned again on Tuesday with his supporters. He urged the wrestlers to move to Ramlila Maidan after May 21 to expand their agitation. The khap panchayats have given the government time till May 21 to take action against Brijbhushan.
