No more street protests, court battle against WFI chief will continue: Protesting wrestlers

New Delhi: A day after claiming that they may hit the streets to resume their agitation against the WFI chief, protesting wrestlers have said that their fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be fought in court and not on the streets. India’s top wrestlers – Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia – posted a similar tweet where they said the government has fulfilled its promise to file a charge sheet against Singh. “In this case, the wrestlers’ fight will continue until we get justice, but it (fight) will be in the court, not on the street,” read the statement on Twitter. “With regard to reforms in the WFI, as promised, the election process has begun. We will wait for the fulfillment of the promises made by the government regarding the July 11 elections.”

Minutes after posting the statement, Vinesh and Sakshi tweeted that they were taking a break from social media for a few days. In a live address on social media, the trio of Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang attacked former wrestler and now BJP leader Yogeshwar Dutt for questioning the IOA ad-hoc panel’s decision to exempt him from the Asian Games trials.

In their nearly 40-minute address, the wrestlers asserted that their fight against Singh would continue and they would consider how to continue the fight after evaluating the charge sheet filed against Singh.

Vinesh said, “People are asking us why we are silent. The time (to suspend the protest) was till June 15. This fight will continue, be it on the mat or off the mat, but the fight for justice will continue.” ” ,

“Till the time Brij Bhushan is not put behind bars, he will not face the punishment for his sins, this will continue. We are waiting for the copy of the charge sheet. We will assess whether it is strong enough for justice. But will we sit or risk our lives, we will decide. That’s why we are silent. Our fight is not over,” he had said.

Vinesh also alleged that Dutt was targeting her because of his selfishness. “You (Dutt) had intimidated the wrestlers so they did not come to the second protest (from April 23). You pressurized them that they would lose their jobs. People told us that they were with us but their compulsions are that She can’t come,” Vinesh.

“I will tell you why you are doing this. May be Brij Bhushan has offered you the post of WFI President and that is why you have joined him.”

After being removed from Jantar Mantar on 28 May, the wrestlers postponed their protest till 15 June after receiving assurance from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that by then a charge sheet would be filed against Singh and any member of his family would be arrested. Will not be allowed to contest WFI elections. ,

The wrestlers, who received overwhelming support from farmer leaders, khap panchayats and several other organizations, sat at Jantar Mantar for 38 days before being taken into custody by the Delhi Police on May 28 on charges of violating law and order.

They first came to Jantar Mantar on January 18 and suspended their three-day sit-in after Thakur promised to probe her allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against 66-year-old Singh, a six-time BJP MP.