With the Delhi Police but to query outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over the sexual harassment first knowledge reviews (FIRs) with the following Supreme Court listening to two days away, the protesting wrestlers on Tuesday expressed anger over the extend ininvestigation.
They additionally expressed surprise that Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha, a former observe nice, and its Athletes Commission (AC) chairperson MC Mary Kom, a boxing icon, have “abandoned” them.
Usha closing week stated the wrestlers will have to have proven extra self-discipline whilst Mary, who additionally headed the sports activities ministry’s oversight committee that submitted a record into the sexual harassment proceedings, has now not commented at the present protests. The AC is but to achieve out to the wrestlers with its contributors pronouncing a public remark to precise harmony with the protestors used to be blocked on the drafting degree.
“This has been a taxing battle, but what has hurt us most is the way we have been treated by people like PT Usha and Mary Kom,” Sakshi Malik, the Rio Games bronze medalist, stated. “It’s a matter of deep concern and shame that former athletes of such standing can’t support us. Such adversities give us strength. We don’t want them to sit with us. We just want them to be truthful.”
Usha and IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey, the soccer federation president, had criticized the wrestlers that they had been bringing disrepute to the rustic with their sit-in protest. Usha is a BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP and Chaubey is a BJP member since 2015. Mary, a six-time global champion and Olympic bronze medalist, used to be nominated to RS via BJP in 2016.
“I’ve been listening to since my early life that a political candidate can’t be relied on. They (Usha and Mary) have proved it. These are the folks I grew up staring at and aspired to transform. Probably I used to be destined to be told the tactics of the arena this fashion.
“I all the time seemed as much as Usha. Growing up, we puzzled if we might ever be capable to see other folks like Usha, Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza, and so on., in flesh. If a girl athlete does not perceive your ache, it hurts much more,” Malik stated.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia additionally criticized Usha.
“Usha must realize she got her IOA post because of her sports achievements, but she has become a thorough politician now,” he stated.
The wrestlers slammed the extend within the police investigation.
“The police is but to summon Brij Bhushan for wondering. The complainants have now not been requested for his or her statements. What roughly investigation is that this? Malik requested. It used to be the 10th day of the sit-in.
Punia stated: “Singh helps to keep pronouncing he welcomes the investigation and trusts the court docket and police. If he’s that severe, he will have to come to Delhi and give up. There are two FIRs lodged towards him.
Singh endured his media feedback towards the protesting wrestlers, accusing them of transferring goalposts and reiterating that he would surrender if discovered to blame.
Singh has finished a most of 3 four-year phrases as WFI president and is ineligible for re-election below the federal government’s sports activities code. An IOA ad-hoc committee has been mandated with deciding at the contemporary elections.
“The police investigation is happening however those other folks need me hanged already. If they do not consider the Delhi Police probe, possibly they will have to ask for a CBI investigation. If any in their allegations are proved proper even on the investigation degree, I will be able to thankfully surrender,” he instructed India TV.
Singh had on Monday alleged that the protests had been politically motivated, pointing to the political leaders visiting the sit-in. Punia brushed aside his remark as a “wild, baseless allegation” and Malik stated it used to be an try to ruin their get to the bottom of.
“Our game checks us mentally and bodily. We do not really feel the strain even supposing we’re combating this kind of unhealthy guy. That’s as a result of we all know we’re doing it for a noble reason,” Malik stated.