India’s top wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, lashed out at the policeman’s alleged misbehaviour during the protest, choking back tears for the cameras and saying, “Did we win medals to see this day?”
Vinishna Phogat is protesting along with her teammates against alleged sexual harassment by the Wrestling Federation of India chief during training.
According to NDTV, Vinesh Phogat says that “a drunken policeman attacked two women wrestlers while his colleagues remained silent spectators.”
He further said that we are not guilty of being treated like this.
He also questioned the absence of women policemen on the occasion and said that male policemen misbehaved and pushed me. Where are the women police officers?
After the incident, Bajrang Punia, who has won four medals in the World Wrestling Championship, told NDTV, “I request the government to take back the medals given to me.”
It should be noted that women wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They say that they wanted to bring folding beds because the mattresses had become wet due to the rain, but the police did not allow it.
The police department said that three people, including Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti, have been detained for bringing folding beds without any permission.
According to the police, “His supporters became angry when asked about the beds and tried to remove the beds from the truck, leading to a minor altercation during which he and two others were detained.”
After the incident, the police have sealed off the Jantar Mantar area and no protestors are being allowed to go near it, while several opposition leaders who went to meet the wrestlers were also registered.
Women wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and are demanding criminal action against him.
WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party and is also an elected member from Uttar Pradesh.
He has been accused of sexually harassing and threatening seven female wrestlers, including a minor.
On the other hand, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh denied all the allegations, called them baseless, and said that if his party, the BJP, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to do so, he would resign.
The Delhi Police registered two cases against them on Friday under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.