New Delhi: India’s top wrestlers, Olympian medalists, have been at the forefront of a protest for over 35 days, demanding the arrest of BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment, including a case of alleged harassment of a minor. The same MP they are protesting against, and against whom the Delhi Police has filed two FIRs, today attended the parliament inauguration ceremony – while the wrestlers were roughed up and detained by the police.
The Wire confirmed with others at the event that Singh attended the parliament inauguration.
While the wrestlers have been forcefully detained, Sakshi Malik, one of the champions heading the protest, tweeted angrily at the thought of Singh sitting inside the new Parliament building, even as they were being manhandled by the Delhi police. “Sexual abuser goon Brij Bhushan is sitting in the Parliament today and we are being dragged on the road. Sad day for Indian sports,” she said.
Sakshi and other wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, as well as those supporting them, have been detained and the protest site at Jantar Mantar is out of bounds.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh tweeted a collage of eight photographs, each having PM Narendra Modi, from the controversial inauguration ceremony.
स्वतन्त्र भारत की स्वनिर्मित नई संसद की महत्ता और आध्यात्मिक आभा मंत्रमुग्ध कर देने वाली है
एक ऐसा क्षण जो प्रत्येक भारतीय को हमारी संस्कृति, विरासत और जीवंत लोकतंत्र पर गर्व की अनुभूति से भर देगा#MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/HTIf2FGwYM— BrijBhushan Sharan Singh (@b_bhushansharan) May 28, 2023
Groups supporting the protest, and others close to the opposition Congress, also put out contrasting images over the state of medallist wrestler, and the BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Singh.
शर्मनाक pic.twitter.com/9F0D7itzfV
— Wrestlers Protest India 🇮🇳 (@wrestlerprotest) May 28, 2023
नया संसद , नया दौर pic.twitter.com/D2SOOyVp2C
Advertisement— With Congress (@WithCongress) May 28, 2023
Wrestlers had to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to ensure that the Delhi Police files an FIR against Singh and currently are demanding commensurate action which usually follows from such complaints.
PTI reported how BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faces a case under the POCSO Act, had on Thursday said that the law is being “misused” and under the leadership of seers, “we will force the government to change” it.
“After detaining all the wrestlers and elderly mothers, the police have now started dismantling our tents at Jantar Mantar. Our luggage is being removed. What hooliganism is this?” wrestler Sakshi tweeted.
As The Wire has reported, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has a a long history of being on the wrong side of the law, but his political clout and closeness to political parties have ensured that he does not face consequences. At one time, Singh claimed that he had killed a man.
