Protesting Wrestlers March to Temple, Gurudwara; Continue Battle for Justice

New Delhi: The protesting grapplers and their supporters marched to the neighbouring Hanuman Temple and the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara on Wednesday to pray. Wrestlers continue to demand the arrest of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers have been camped out at Jantar Mantar for the past 25 days.

Athletes, including a minor, have accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment and intimidation, and top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh, and others have demanded his arrest without relenting.

Olympic and World Championship medalist Bajrang asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to step in and deliver justice for the female wrestlers while briefing the media following the march. He emphasized the slogan “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” and requested justice for the nation’s daughters.

“We have come to the temple to seek Bajrang Bali’s blessings so that the daughters of our country get justice at the earliest,” said World Championship medallist Vinesh, expressing frustration with the need for prolonged sit-ins to attain justice.

Many people marched alongside the wrestlers carrying banners with slogans such as “We are with our athletes” and “Arrest Brij Bhushan.”

Olympic medallist Sakshi took to Twitter, seeking videography/photography volunteers to support their fight for justice.

The wrestlers hinted on Tuesday that they would take their protest to the Ram Lila site to turn it into a “national movement.”

Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan and his supporters returned to the Jantar Mantar protest site after being asked to leave by the authorities. He urged the wrestlers to decide whether to make their agitation “bigger” by moving to the Ram Lila ground.

The khap Panchayats have set a deadline of May 21 for the government to take action against Brij Bhushan.