New Delhi, May 28 (Agencies): Wrestlers, who have been protesting in demand for action against Wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Singh for sexual harassment, were manhandled by police on Sunday when they tried to march towards the new Parliament building.
On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP stalwarts focused on posting photographs of the inauguration of the new Parliament house on social media, the wrestlers — including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Vigesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia — were being dragged and pinned down to the road by the police force.
Surprisingly, while the Twitter handles, @PMOIndia and @narendramodi, had photos and videos of the inauguration of the building, there were no comments on the wrestlers’ issue.
The protesting wrestlers were detained after they tried to break the security cordon and march towards the new Parliament. Since morning, heavy police deployment was seen at Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning where the wrestlers were demonstrating and had called for a ‘mahapanchayat’. Later, police reportedly removed the makeshift tents at Jantar Mantar.
“Even while protesting in front of the Parliament, which stands as a symbol of justice and truth, our wrestlers got mistreated & manhandled instead of justice. It is a shame that our champions are being treated this way! I strongly condemn this act by Delhi Police and stand by our wrestlers in such oppressive times,” Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar tweeted.
Even while protesting in front of the Parliament, which stands as a symbol of justice and truth, our wrestlers got mistreated & manhandled instead of justice.
It is a shame that our champions are being treated this way!I strongly condemn this act by Delhi Police and stand by… pic.twitter.com/G5H4QMwwzy
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 28, 2023
Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, saying, “Rajyabhishek pura hua- ahankari raja sadko par kuchal raha janta ki awaz (The coronation is complete-the arrogant king is silencing the public)
राज्याभिषेक पूरा हुआ – 'अहंकारी राजा' सड़कों पर कुचल रहा जनता की आवाज़! pic.twitter.com/9hbEoKZeZs
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 28, 2023
Whatever be your view on the wrestler protests, surely u agree it must never end up in a awful awful image like this one
Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/Tzt3deRreL
— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) May 28, 2023
