INDIA: Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat have decided to resume their duties within the Indian Railways following a month-long protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The wrestlers, who were at the forefront of the protest alongside Olympians Punia and Phogat, had been demanding action against Singh for over a month.
After a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the protesting wrestlers have now returned to their services in the Railways. Reliable sources indicate that the Home Minister reassured the wrestlers that the appropriate procedures were being followed and that the law would take its course, ensuring that no undue advantage would be given to Singh, despite his status as a BJP MP. Both Punia and Phogat have also resumed their positions in Northern Railways as OSD Sports. These three athletes were the prominent faces of the wrestlers’ protests for several months.
The future of the campaign remains uncertain with Malik, Punia, and Phogat resuming their duties. It is currently unclear whether the wrestlers will continue to occupy the protest site.
In response to reports suggesting their withdrawal from the protest, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia took to their social media accounts to inform the public that they would not back down until justice was served. Their decision to resume work was attributed to their recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The protest, led by Sakshi along with Bajrang and Vinesh, initially began in January of this year. However, it was temporarily called off after receiving assurances from Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. Yet, in April, the wrestlers took to the streets once again, demanding swift action against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced allegations of harassment and sexual abuse.
After the wrestlers intended to host a’mahapanchayat’ for ladies in front of the newly inaugurated parliament building last month, the Delhi police detained them temporarily and filed a FIR. The event was timed to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of the new parliament. Nonetheless, the wrestlers were let go after receiving tremendous backlash on social media.
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