Wrestlers Meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah

On Saturday evening, wrestlers meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In two two-hours long meeting, Shah declined the wrestlers’ demand on immediate arrest of Singh for harassing a young wrestler. Shah assured them that the arrest would take place in respect of the law and legal procedure. The HM is said to have acceded to the protesters’ demands, which included dropping the FIRs, barring Brij Bhushan’s family from the wrestling federation, and electing a separate president for female wrestlers. Punia, Mallikh, and Vinesh Phogat, however, resumed their jobs as representatives of the rail ministry.

Some relief for Wrestlers

Wrestlers meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah came with some relief, but the “immediate apprehend of Brij Bhushan ruled out.” The wrestlers thanked athletes for their social media support.

Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met with Union home minister Amit Shah

Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, were the two wrestlers who met with Union home minister Amit Shah for two hours on Saturday night, according to sources close to them. There were some coaches and other individuals resent as well in this meeting.

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The sudden meeting, which sparked outrage among the khaps who were holding up the cudgels for the fighting grapplers and surfaced to be gearing up for a protracted confrontation, was not confirmed by the home ministry. The Khaps were unhappy with this sudden meetup of wrestlers with Home Minister. Few days back, Rakesh Tikait gave seven to ten days to government to take action against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. This announcement was made after ‘khap mahapanchayat‘ that held in Kurukshetra.

Shah rejected the wrestler’s primary demand, but they were still satisfied with the meet

The wrestlers’ camp claimed that Shah rejected their primary demand, the immediate arrest of Singh, a BJP member, for allegedly sexually harassing a young wrestler.

However, they didn’t seem to have a problem with the HM’s alleged fulfillment of their other demands. It included the appointment of a separate president for women wrestlers, withdrawal of the FIRs filed against the wrestlers who were protesting for disobeying prohibitory orders on May 28,and the prohibition of Brij Bhushan’s family and relatives from running in the upcoming elections for the wrestling federation.

According to sources, Shah assured them that the arrest would take place in respect of the law and legal procedure. The wrestlers’ camp claimed that the minister suggested turning over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Or refer the case to a fast-track court if they were dissatisfied with the ongoing inquiry by the Delhi police.

Punia, Mallikh, and Vinesh Phogat returned to the office

The discussions happened after Punia, Mallikh, and Vinesh Phogat resumed their jobs as rail ministry officials. This was a significant transition and went against their confrontational stance.

Khap panchayats and kisan unions dissociate themselves from the demonstrations, casting doubt on their intentions.

Another development is that the protesting female wrestlers have contacted senior Supreme Court attorney Rebecca Mammen John. Wrestlers requested her to represent them in the upcoming court case.