Wrestlers Declare Jantar Mantar Demonstrations Will Continue

Wrestlers declare Jantar Mantar demonstrations will continue after accepting the SC decision

Live updates on the Delhi wrestler’s protest: When the wrestlers attempted to bring beds to the protest site, the most recent altercation appears to have begun.

Wrestlers accept SC’s decision

The wrestlers on Thursday asserted that the Supreme Court’s decision to end the investigation into the complaint of sexual harassment allegations against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is not a setback and that they will continue their protest.

Protest of the wrestlers

Since April 23, the wrestlers have been sitting in protest, calling for the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan on charges that he has harassed seven female wrestlers, including a minor.

Wrestlers continue their protest at Jantar Mantar

Protesting wrestlers declared on Thursday that their uprising would continue at Jantar Mantar until the WFI chief was arrested, hours after the Supreme Court ended the hearings on a petition seeking an FIR against Brij Bhushan Singh.

However, the protesting wrestlers applauded the apex court’s decision to end the case involving the three female wrestlers who had filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment against WFI president Singh. The court noted that two FIRs had been filed by the Delhi Police against BJP MP Brij Bhushan.

Wrestlers’ remarks on SC’s decision

Sakshi Malik, who won bronze at the Olympics in Rio, said, “We honor the highest court’s verdict, outrage will keep going.”

“The Supreme Court did what it could in this case, so its order is not a setback,” she continued. The wrestlers went on to say that they will consult their seniors before deciding on their next course of action.

According to Vinesh Phogat, “We have all options open and will decide after consulting seniors.”

What did the Supreme Court order?

An oral request by the lawyers for the wrestlers that the ongoing investigation be overseen by a retired or active high court judge was rejected by a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

You specifically prayed for the filing of an FIR and the complainants’ security when you arrived here. You have now received answers to both of your prayers.

The bench added that it is ending the proceedings for the time being and said that “if there were any more grievances, they could be addressed to the high court or the jurisdictional magistrate.”

A Scuffle Between Delhi Police and Protesting Wrestlers

The wrestlers got into a fight earlier that night, around 11 p.m., when they brought in folding beds to sleep on. The police officers who were on duty started asking questions about this because it is against the rules to bring these items into the protest site.

The allegations of abuse and pushing by male police officers by Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik left them in tears. Sangeeta Phogat’s brother Dushyant was one of the two wrestlers who sustained injuries.

Police are heavily deployed at the protest site

After Bajrang Punia called on farmers and the general public to travel to Jantar Mantar to show their support for them on Wednesday night, there is likely heavy police bandobast at the roads leading to the protest site in anticipation that supporters may try to arrive there.