Wrestlers vs WFI chief: Wresters vow to continue protests until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is jailed

With several politicians and farmer organisations in their corner, India's top wrestlers on Tuesday intensified their protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They asserted they wouldn't leave the protest site until the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, facing sexual harassment charges, is arrested. The wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, alleged that the WFI chief is now resorting to strong-arm tactics and trying to break the "victims" by issuing threats and offering bribes.

Vinesh claimed that the Delhi police had leaked the victims' names to Brij Bhushan, who is using Haryana Wrestling Association (HWA) secretary general Rakesh and coach Mahavir Prasad Bishnoi to threaten the families of the women wrestlers, who have filed complaints against the WFI chief. "Brij Bhushan now knows the names of the complainants. The Delhi police have leaked the names to him. They are issuing threats. They are trying to break the victims, and that's why the delay in lodging an FIR," Vinesh told reporters.

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"We thought the sports ministry would give us justice, but it did not happen. But, we have faith in the judiciary. If the Supreme Court takes everything related to this case under its wings and we are sure that no game will be played, we will only leave the protest site. If just an FIR is lodged, we will not go from here. He has to be put behind bars. If he remains outside, we won't be safe. How will we train if he is roaming free," Vinesh said.

Would they be content if the police filed an FIR and began an investigation? Vinesh said, "There are hundreds and thousands of FIRs against many people. But, it is a question of justice. We end protests only when we are sure we will not be tricked. Otherwise, we are here."

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Coach Mahabir Prasad denied the allegations. "I don't know who the victims are. I am being dragged into this because I refused to be on the side of the wrestlers. They wanted me to be with them in the protest, but I told them that while they are dear to me and I can help with the coaching part, even if they call me in the wee hours, I won't stand on one side because the federation has also helped me in my career. I chose to be neutral, and the wrestlers did not like it, so they are accusing me," Mahabir Prasad told PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)