NEW DELHI: The wrestlers’ protest within the nationwide capital towards WFI leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh appeared to have taken a political colour as politicians from around the nation, farmers’ and ladies’s organizations joined to increase their enhance.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, who is without doubt one of the distinguished faces of the protest, claimed some other folks made an effort to divert the reason in their motion however didn’t identify who they had been.
Bajrang additionally made it transparent that the wrestlers would possibly not let any individual use their platform for political good points.
“A few people are trying to take our movement to a different direction and we strongly refute it. This is a fight for justice for India’s daughters,” mentioned Bajrang, regardless that he was once silent when requested who was once doing it.
Probably, Bajrang was once relating to the crowd of people that had been heard elevating slogans towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A gaggle of other folks was once heard shouting ‘Modi teri kabr khudegi’ (Modi your grave can be dug right here) on Friday.
“A lot of people have entered the protest site and trying to project it as a ‘bhadkau andolan’ but this is fight to save Indian wrestling. People who are here (assembled) are in our support but not for any political gains,” he mentioned To set up Bajrang.
“Politics and other things are secondary, the dignity and honor of women is first, so please don’t indulge in politics. This is players’ movement, so do not link to any political party,” he added.
Politicians comparable to Congress celebration’s Priyanka Gandhi and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Delhi leader minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, Delhi executive ministers Atishi Singh and Suarbah Bhardwaj have all visited the protest website to increase their enhance to the athletes in the previous few days.
Vinesh Phogat additionally sought to placate the folks in place of energy in her deal with to media on Saturday.
“All those, who hold constitutional posts (I want to say), that the common man also deserves respect. We respect all, we will not say anything that goes against their honour, but we should also be respected.
“If via mistake we now have mentioned one thing, we express regret as a result of that was once no longer the goal. We come from a civilized society, we now have been taught that elders must at all times be revered,” Vinesh said.
Both Bajrang and Vinesh were silent as to who was trying to give their protest a political colour.
before delhi police filed an FIR against WFI chief and BJP MP Singh on Friday evening, the wrestlers had said that they do not trust the probe agency and feared that it might file a loose (improper) FIR.
Asked if they are satisfied with the contents of the FIR, both Bajrang and Vinesh chose not to say anything.
“Talk to our felony workforce,” was all they said in response to the question.
WFI chief Singh addressed the media in Gonda earlier in the day and said that he would quit if the wrestlers end their protest and resume training.
He also claimed that the protesting wrestlers tried to avoid national competition by seeking exemption.
Responding to that, Vinesh said that he has never tried to avoid the Nationals.
“We were accused that we do not wish to play Nationals. Ever since I started competing in 2009, I’ve skipped simplest 4 Nationals. I were given injured all through the Rio Games (2016), that was once first 12 months.
“Then, I skipped the National during the COVID times near Tokyo Games. I myself was down with COVID-19. The third National I skipped was after the Tokyo Games because I was not in a good mental state after defeat. I could have done anything to myself at that time (due to depression).
“The fourth National I overlooked was once this 12 months. I had asked that we be accredited to skip the World Championship trials as a result of chopping weight three times in a month is hard. I’ve competed in 10 Nationals. By God’s grace I’ve no longer confronted defeat in India (to an Indian opponent in Nationals). I paintings onerous, my circle of relatives and full nation supported me.
“I am not a champion athlete, there are bigger athletes than me, not just in India but also abroad. One such is sitting beside me, Bajrang also goes to international competitions after clearing trials, so what’s my status?
“No participant is greater than the country. His allegations are baseless, he is making an attempt to wreck us.”
Adding to that, Bajrang said,”This factor isn’t about Nationals. This is set sexual harassment. He must solution the ones questions. How he were given to understand {that a} minor gave the impression earlier than the police however no longer earlier than the oversight panel? Who leaked this knowledge to him?”
Vinesh said the wrestlers were forced to invite the WFI chief to family functions due to fears.
Bajrang also claimed that they were being harassed by the Delhi police.
“Last night time, they lower our energy provide, didn’t allow us to deliver meals and water or even mattresses and takhtas (picket cots). Even probably the most employees, who introduced this stuff to the protest website, has no longer reached house. The police isn’t treating the athletes smartly.
“Is this the honor of the country’s athletes? What’s the point of winning those medals if we had to face all these?” he requested.
(With PTI inputs)
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, who is without doubt one of the distinguished faces of the protest, claimed some other folks made an effort to divert the reason in their motion however didn’t identify who they had been.
Bajrang additionally made it transparent that the wrestlers would possibly not let any individual use their platform for political good points.
“A few people are trying to take our movement to a different direction and we strongly refute it. This is a fight for justice for India’s daughters,” mentioned Bajrang, regardless that he was once silent when requested who was once doing it.
Probably, Bajrang was once relating to the crowd of people that had been heard elevating slogans towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A gaggle of other folks was once heard shouting ‘Modi teri kabr khudegi’ (Modi your grave can be dug right here) on Friday.
“A lot of people have entered the protest site and trying to project it as a ‘bhadkau andolan’ but this is fight to save Indian wrestling. People who are here (assembled) are in our support but not for any political gains,” he mentioned To set up Bajrang.
“Politics and other things are secondary, the dignity and honor of women is first, so please don’t indulge in politics. This is players’ movement, so do not link to any political party,” he added.
Politicians comparable to Congress celebration’s Priyanka Gandhi and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Delhi leader minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, Delhi executive ministers Atishi Singh and Suarbah Bhardwaj have all visited the protest website to increase their enhance to the athletes in the previous few days.
Vinesh Phogat additionally sought to placate the folks in place of energy in her deal with to media on Saturday.
“All those, who hold constitutional posts (I want to say), that the common man also deserves respect. We respect all, we will not say anything that goes against their honour, but we should also be respected.
“If via mistake we now have mentioned one thing, we express regret as a result of that was once no longer the goal. We come from a civilized society, we now have been taught that elders must at all times be revered,” Vinesh said.
Both Bajrang and Vinesh were silent as to who was trying to give their protest a political colour.
before delhi police filed an FIR against WFI chief and BJP MP Singh on Friday evening, the wrestlers had said that they do not trust the probe agency and feared that it might file a loose (improper) FIR.
Asked if they are satisfied with the contents of the FIR, both Bajrang and Vinesh chose not to say anything.
“Talk to our felony workforce,” was all they said in response to the question.
WFI chief Singh addressed the media in Gonda earlier in the day and said that he would quit if the wrestlers end their protest and resume training.
He also claimed that the protesting wrestlers tried to avoid national competition by seeking exemption.
Responding to that, Vinesh said that he has never tried to avoid the Nationals.
“We were accused that we do not wish to play Nationals. Ever since I started competing in 2009, I’ve skipped simplest 4 Nationals. I were given injured all through the Rio Games (2016), that was once first 12 months.
“Then, I skipped the National during the COVID times near Tokyo Games. I myself was down with COVID-19. The third National I skipped was after the Tokyo Games because I was not in a good mental state after defeat. I could have done anything to myself at that time (due to depression).
“The fourth National I overlooked was once this 12 months. I had asked that we be accredited to skip the World Championship trials as a result of chopping weight three times in a month is hard. I’ve competed in 10 Nationals. By God’s grace I’ve no longer confronted defeat in India (to an Indian opponent in Nationals). I paintings onerous, my circle of relatives and full nation supported me.
“I am not a champion athlete, there are bigger athletes than me, not just in India but also abroad. One such is sitting beside me, Bajrang also goes to international competitions after clearing trials, so what’s my status?
“No participant is greater than the country. His allegations are baseless, he is making an attempt to wreck us.”
Adding to that, Bajrang said,”This factor isn’t about Nationals. This is set sexual harassment. He must solution the ones questions. How he were given to understand {that a} minor gave the impression earlier than the police however no longer earlier than the oversight panel? Who leaked this knowledge to him?”
Vinesh said the wrestlers were forced to invite the WFI chief to family functions due to fears.
Bajrang also claimed that they were being harassed by the Delhi police.
“Last night time, they lower our energy provide, didn’t allow us to deliver meals and water or even mattresses and takhtas (picket cots). Even probably the most employees, who introduced this stuff to the protest website, has no longer reached house. The police isn’t treating the athletes smartly.
“Is this the honor of the country’s athletes? What’s the point of winning those medals if we had to face all these?” he requested.
(With PTI inputs)