Sakshi Malik & Bajrang Punia Join their Railway Duties After Meeting Amit Shah
Delhi, 5 June 2023– Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are two of India’s most celebrated wrestlers who have won medals at the Olympics and other international tournaments. They are also employees of the Indian Railways, working as officers on special duty (Sports). However, for the past month, they have been leading a protest against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing seven female wrestlers, including a minor.
The protest has been marked by several dramatic events, such as the wrestlers being manhandled and detained by the Delhi Police, threatening to throw their medals into the Ganga river, and meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek his intervention. Recently, there were reports that Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia have decided to rejoin work after the meeting with Amit Shah, raising questions about the status and future of their protest.
The allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is a member of parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been the president of the WFI since 2012. He is also a former wrestler himself and has been involved in promoting the sport in India.
However, in April 2023, seven female wrestlers filed a complaint against him at the Parliament Street police station in Delhi, alleging that he had sexually harassed them on multiple occasions. One of them was a minor who claimed that Singh had molested her when she was 15 years old. The wrestlers also alleged that Singh had threatened them with dire consequences if they spoke out against him.
The complaint triggered a wave of outrage and solidarity among the wrestling community in India, especially among the top wrestlers who have been trained by Singh or have worked with him closely. Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and others decided to launch a protest against Singh, demanding his arrest and removal from the WFI.
The protest by the wrestlers
The protest by the wrestlers began on April 4 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, a popular site for demonstrations and rallies. The wrestlers wore black bands on their arms and held placards with slogans such as “Justice for Wrestlers”, “Arrest Brij Bhushan” and “Save Wrestling”. They also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to intervene in the matter and ensure justice for the victims.
The protest soon gained momentum and support from various quarters, including other athletes, celebrities, politicians, and civil society groups. The protesters also received messages of solidarity from international wrestling bodies such as United World Wrestling (UWW) and Asian Wrestling Federation (AWF).
However, the protest also faced several challenges and obstacles from the authorities and Singh’s supporters. On May 28, the Delhi Police forcibly evicted the protesters from Jantar Mantar and detained them for several hours. The police also dismantled their tents and belongings at the site. The protesters alleged that they were manhandled and abused by the police personnel.
The next day, the protesters decided to escalate their agitation by announcing that they would throw their medals into the Ganga River in Haridwar on May 30. They said that they had no value for their medals if they could not get justice for their fellow wrestlers. They also said that they were ready to sacrifice their careers for this cause.
However, when they reached Haridwar, they were persuaded by many people, including farmers’ leaders who were also protesting against the government’s farm laws, to not go ahead with their plan. The wrestlers then decided to hand over their medals to the farmers’ leaders and asked them to take a call on what to do with them.
The Meeting with Amit Shah
On June 3, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi. They said that they had sought an appointment with him to discuss their grievances and demands. They also said that they had high hopes for him as he was a senior leader of the BJP and had a reputation for being a problem-solver.
The meeting lasted for about an hour and the wrestlers shared their concerns with Shah. They said that they wanted Singh to be arrested and removed from the WFI as soon as possible. They also said that they wanted a fair and impartial investigation into the allegations against him. They said that they had faith in the judicial system but they also wanted the government to take action against Singh.
However, the meeting did not result in any concrete decision or assurance from Shah. According to sources close to the wrestlers, Shah listened to them patiently but did not make any commitment or promise. He said that he would look into the matter and get back to them.
The decision to rejoin work
After the meeting with Shah, there were reports that Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia had decided to rejoin work with the Railways and had withdrawn from the protest. The reports claimed that they had reached an agreement with Shah and had called off their agitation.
However, both Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia denied these reports and clarified that they had not given up on their protest. They said that they had resumed their duties in the Railways as they had been on leave for a long time and did not want to lose their jobs. They said that they were fulfilling their responsibilities as employees but they were also continuing their fight for justice as wrestlers.
They also said that they had not come to any agreement with Shah or anyone else and that their demands remained the same. They said that they would not stop their protest until Singh was arrested and removed from the WFI. They also said that they would soon decide on where and how to resume their protest.
Conclusion
The protest by Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been one of the most unprecedented and remarkable movements in Indian sports history. It has highlighted the issue of sexual harassment and abuse in sports and has challenged the power and influence of a prominent sports administrator and politician.
The protest has also shown the courage and conviction of the wrestlers who have put their careers and reputations at stake for this cause. They have faced several hardships and hurdles but have not given up on their demand for justice. They have also received widespread support and admiration from various sections of society.
However, the protest has also exposed the apathy and indifference of the government and the sports authorities towards the plight of the wrestlers. It has raised questions about the accountability and transparency of the WFI and its president. It has also revealed the lack of effective mechanisms and policies to prevent and address sexual harassment and abuse in sports.
The protest by Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers is still ongoing and its outcome is uncertain. However, it has already made a significant impact on Indian sports and society. It has inspired many people to speak up against injustice and oppression. It has also challenged the status quo and demanded change. It has shown that sports is not just a game but a platform for social transformation.
