NEW DELHI: Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that they have withdrawn from the protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. They asserted that their “fight will continue till they get justice.”
Earlier today, several reports claimed that the protesting grapplers have withdrawn from the stir and rejoined their respective government jobs after a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday.
The wrestlers, however, issued a clarification saying they have resumed work as Officer of Special Duty (OSD) in railways but the reports suggesting that they have withdrawn from the protest are just “rumours”.
According to sources, the wrestlers resumed their respective jobs last week itself.
In separate social media posts, both Sakshi and Bajrang said they are not withdrawing from the protest and that their fight for justice will continue.
“We met Union home minister Amit Shah, it was a normal conversation, we have only one demand and that is to arrest him (Brij Bhushan Singh). I have not stepped back from the protest, I have resumed my work as OSD in Railways.
“I want to clarify that we will keep protesting until we get justice. We will not step back. She (minor girl) has not taken back any FIR, all this is fake,” Sakshi told news agency ANI.
“The news of withdrawing the movement is just a rumour. These news are being spread to harm us. We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement. The news of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also false. The fight will continue till justice is served,” said Bajrang in a tweet.
Country’s top grapplers including Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh Phogat among many others have been demanding action against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges.
The decision from Sakshi and Bajrang comes after the wrestlers met union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
Earlier on May 28, the protesting wrestlers were manhandled and detained by Delhi Police and their arrangements at the protest site were dismantled.
The wrestlers had then gone to Haridwar claiming that they want to drop their medals in the river Ganga. With many people requesting them, they decided to hand over the medals to the farmers’ leaders to take a call.
The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against the outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan at the Connaught Place police station, including one on the basis of a complaint from the father of a minor wrestler invoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act that entails a prison term of up to seven years on conviction.
The FIRs registered following a Supreme Court order have charged him under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including assaulting a woman to outrage her modesty (section 354), sexual harassment (354A) and stalking (354D), that are punishable with jail terms of two-three years.
Some of the complainants also alleged that Singh made advances to seek “sexual favours”, promising to help them in their careers.
Singh has denied all the charges and said he will hang himself even if a single allegation is proved against him.
Watch Wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat rejoin govt duties, but insist protest not withdrawn
Earlier today, several reports claimed that the protesting grapplers have withdrawn from the stir and rejoined their respective government jobs after a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday.
The wrestlers, however, issued a clarification saying they have resumed work as Officer of Special Duty (OSD) in railways but the reports suggesting that they have withdrawn from the protest are just “rumours”.
According to sources, the wrestlers resumed their respective jobs last week itself.
In separate social media posts, both Sakshi and Bajrang said they are not withdrawing from the protest and that their fight for justice will continue.
“We met Union home minister Amit Shah, it was a normal conversation, we have only one demand and that is to arrest him (Brij Bhushan Singh). I have not stepped back from the protest, I have resumed my work as OSD in Railways.
“I want to clarify that we will keep protesting until we get justice. We will not step back. She (minor girl) has not taken back any FIR, all this is fake,” Sakshi told news agency ANI.
“The news of withdrawing the movement is just a rumour. These news are being spread to harm us. We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement. The news of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also false. The fight will continue till justice is served,” said Bajrang in a tweet.
Country’s top grapplers including Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh Phogat among many others have been demanding action against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges.
The decision from Sakshi and Bajrang comes after the wrestlers met union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
Earlier on May 28, the protesting wrestlers were manhandled and detained by Delhi Police and their arrangements at the protest site were dismantled.
The wrestlers had then gone to Haridwar claiming that they want to drop their medals in the river Ganga. With many people requesting them, they decided to hand over the medals to the farmers’ leaders to take a call.
The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against the outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan at the Connaught Place police station, including one on the basis of a complaint from the father of a minor wrestler invoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act that entails a prison term of up to seven years on conviction.
The FIRs registered following a Supreme Court order have charged him under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including assaulting a woman to outrage her modesty (section 354), sexual harassment (354A) and stalking (354D), that are punishable with jail terms of two-three years.
Some of the complainants also alleged that Singh made advances to seek “sexual favours”, promising to help them in their careers.
Singh has denied all the charges and said he will hang himself even if a single allegation is proved against him.
Watch Wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat rejoin govt duties, but insist protest not withdrawn
