Several opposition leaders have voiced their support for the wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, over alleged sexual misconduct by wrestling body head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday slammed the country's Olympic body chief PT Usha for her comment that the protest is tarnishing the country's image. "Dear @PTUshaOfficial, it is does not become you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons in the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for their rights does not "tarnish the image of the nation". Ignoring their concerns - instead of hearing them out, investigating them & taking just action - does," Tharoor tweeted.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also hit back at Usha for criticising the wrestlers. "Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image says @PTUshaOfficial. So ruling party MP chairing WFI for years accused of molestation & abuse of power against who @DelhiPolice refuses to lodge FIR in spite of SC order makes India smell of roses, does it?" tweeted Moitra.
We must all stand with the wrestlers who are protesting. They are speaking in one voice.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 28, 2023
Our sportspersons are the pride of our nation. They are champions.
The guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation. Justice must prevail. Truth must win
On Friday, the fifth day of the sit-in staged by the country's top wrestlers seeking registration of an FIR against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sharan Singh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the accused must face action 'irrespective of political affiliation'. Supporting the sportspersons, Mamata tweeted: "We must all stand with the wrestlers who are protesting. They are speaking in one voice. Our sportspersons are the pride of our nation. They are champions. The guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation. Justice must prevail. Truth must win.”
Meanwhile, AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi will meet the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar on Friday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit them on Saturday.
Top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, are demanding that the government makes public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated sexual harassment allegations against the WFI chief.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea by seven women wrestlers on Friday.
