New Delhi: India’s top wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment by him. CWG gold medallist Vinesh Phogat called out cricketers for not supporting them and several former cricketers came forward in solidarity. At an event, Sourav Ganguly was asked about the protest and he stated that he does not know the whole issue.
Former BCCI chief and ex-Indian captain Ganguly said, “Let them fight their battle.” He added that he does not know what is happening there and in the sports world, one should not talk about things that one does not have complete knowledge of.
#WATCH | “…Let them fight their battle. I really don’t know what’s happening there, I just read in the newspapers. I realised one thing in the sports world, that you don’t talk about things which you don’t have complete knowledge of. I hope it gets resolved. Wrestlers bring a… pic.twitter.com/eRYABRBCL9
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
Moreover, he said that he hopes it gets resolved and added that the wrestlers bring a lot of accolades to the country.
After Vinesh gave a statement calling cricketers to be popular and ignorant, 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev shared an Instagram story, and former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, and Irfan Pathan tweeted in support of the wrestlers and asked for justice.
बहुत दुःख की बात है की हमारे champions जिन्होंने देश का बड़ा नाम किया है , झंडा लहराया है , हम सबको इतनी ख़ुशियाँ दी हैं, उन्हें आज सड़क पर आना पड़ा है।
बड़ा संवेदनशील मामला है और इसकी निष्पक्ष जाँच होनी चाहिए। उम्मीद है खिलाड़ियों को न्याय मिलेगा। pic.twitter.com/A8KXqxbKZ4— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 28, 2023
Sakshi, Vinesh are India’s pride. I am pained as a sportsperson to find pride of our country coming out to protest on the streets. I pray that they get justice.#IStandWithWrestlers pic.twitter.com/hwD9dKSFNv
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 28, 2023
Supreme Court closed the proceedings in the case registered by three wrestlers after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Brij Bhushan and WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar and gave directions to the police to protect the minor, who was allegedly sexually harassed. The apex court asked the petitioners to continue the case before a magistrate or a High Court.
BJP MP and the federation chief Brij Bhushan is accused of sexually harassing seven women wrestlers, including a minor. The wrestlers said that they will continue the agitation till he is arrested.
