New Delhi: The ongoing protest by wrestlers shows no signs of ending as they express their belief that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), will not be arrested anytime soon. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat made allegations on Sunday, claiming that the government is attempting to shield Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh.
The wrestlers had temporarily suspended their agitation after receiving assurance from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on June 7 that a charge sheet would be filed against Singh by June 15. Since resuming their protest against Singh on April 23 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers have been demanding his arrest.
Several demands put forth by the wrestlers have been accepted by the government, including the stipulation that none of Singh’s family members or associates would be permitted to contest in the upcoming WFI elections. However, Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat, who are leading the protest, insist that they will not call off their demonstration until Singh is apprehended.
Phogat, a double world medallist, joined the protesting farmers in Punjab on Sunday and spoke to the media while en route at Khatkar Toll Plaza in Haryana. When asked about the meeting between the wrestlers and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Phogat stated, “They presented a few proposals, claiming they could fulfill them, but except for the arrest of Brij Bhushan, everything else is happening.” She then questioned why Singh has not been arrested and accused the government of protecting him.
Despite nearly six months passing since the protest began, the wrestlers remain resolute. Phogat acknowledged that she could not predict when their protest would conclude, stating, “I can’t tell you how long our protest will continue; we will end it the day he (Singh) is arrested. But if justice is delayed, what’s the point?”
She emphasized that their fight may eventually conclude, but other sections of society, such as senior citizens, continue to struggle. Phogat expressed solidarity with them, saying, “A few fights won’t end on this Earth. People are sacrificing their lives, people are in pain, and unemployment is affecting the youth. The government needs to address these issues.”
When asked whether she believed that the country was following a monarchy rather than a democracy, Phogat replied, “There is no doubt about it.”
Later, Phogat arrived in Patiala and joined the farmers’ protest against the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The farmers, who belong to the non-political Samyukta Kisan Morcha, have been demonstrating against delays in providing new connections, releasing pending tubewell connections, and installing smart meters.
Addressing the gathering, Vinesh Phogat expressed her concerns, stating, “Is it necessary for people to take to the streets for every issue? It is not beneficial for the country. They have been sitting here, leaving behind their families. Governments are meant to serve the people, not to make them unhappy.”
With various farmers’ unions showing support for the wrestlers, Bajrang Punia reciprocated by expressing his support for the farmers via a tweet.
The wrestlers’ protest and their demand for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh continue, as they assert their right to justice and call for the government’s attention to the pressing issues faced by the country’s citizens.