New Delhi [India]: India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat who has been protesting at Jantar Mantar with other top grapplers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Tuesday said that it is tough to stand against a powerful person who is misusing his power and position for a very long time.
The wrestlers are continuously protesting against sexual harassment charges against the WFI chief; they are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan. Addressing the media, Olympian Vinesh said, “It is very difficult to stand against a person who is misusing his power and position for so long.”
She further revealed that the wrestlers had met an official before they started their protest in Jantar Mantar, for the first time. But, no action was taken.
“Three-Four months before we sat at Jantar Mantar, we had met an official, we had told him everything that how women athletes are sexually harassed and mentally tortured when no action was taken, then we sat on Dharna,” Vinesh added.
Vinesh also slammed Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for not taking any action and suppressing the matter by forming a committee.
“We ended our protest after talking to Union Sports Minister (Anurag Thakur), and all the athletes had told him about the sexual harassment. He by forming a committee tried to suppress the matter there; no action was taken that time,” She said.
Bajrang Punia addressed the allegations that they are protesting against new rules introduced for the Olympics.
He said, “He (Brij Bhusan) is saying that we have made some rules for the Olympics and therefore these athletes are protesting; firstly, this is not about the Olympics, this is against sexual harassment. And if I talk about the Olympic rule; the federation will take trails of athletes coming from the Olympics, whoever they want.”
