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Big #MeToo protest by wrestlers, government intervention: 10 points

January 19, 2023
Sezarr

Wrestlers are sitting on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

New Delhi:
Around 200 Indian wrestlers staged a sit-in in Delhi for the second day on Thursday, demanding action against the federation chief and several coaches who have been accused of sexually harassing several athletes.

Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:

  1. After allegations against one of India’s most successful women wrestlers, triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, became public, the country’s Sports Ministry on Wednesday asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to respond to the allegations within 72 hours. Told.

  2. WFI president Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, who is also a BJP MP, has denied the allegations. “All allegations of sexual harassment are false, and if they are found to be true, I will commit suicide. I tried to contact wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, but was unable to do so,” the 66-year-old was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. has gone.

  3. Mr Punia, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, also joined the protest and accused Mr Singh of running the federation at a high level. “The federation’s job is to support the players and take care of their sporting needs. If there is a problem, it has to be solved,” he tweeted.

  4. Ms Phogat, 28, made the allegations against Mr Singh and the coaches at a public protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, supported by several other top wrestlers. Weeping, she said, “Women wrestlers have been sexually assaulted by coaches and the WFI president in national camps. I know at least 10-20 girls in national camps who have come and told me their stories.”

  5. Ms Phogat said she herself never faced such abuse, but claimed that many wrestlers were scared to come forward because of their humble origins. “They are scared because of their family background. They can’t fight them because they are powerful. Wrestling is our only livelihood, and they are not letting us do it. Our only option is to die. So might as well do it first ” Dying,” he added.

  6. Fellow wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, who was part of the protest, supported the allegations. “Athletes work hard to win medals for the country, but the federation has done nothing but let us down,” he tweeted.

  7. Vinesh Phogat’s cousin Babita Phogat, who is also a former wrestler, member of the BJP and part of the Haryana government, tweeted, “I stand by all my fellow players in this matter of wrestling. I believe you all. I assure that I will work to increase it. This issue with the government at all levels, and the future will be decided when the players feel right.”

  8. The Delhi Commission for Women, a local body that looks into women’s issues, has issued a notice to the Sports Ministry and asked the city police to register a case. The head of the organization Swati Maliwal also met the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.

  9. The allegations come months after the coach of the country’s national cycling team was sacked following allegations of sexual harassment.

  10. India’s #MeToo movement gained momentum in 2018 after a Bollywood actress accused a senior actor of sexual harassment. Soon after, a number of women from other backgrounds came forward with allegations, including a former government minister, but activists say there has been little fundamental change.

(with inputs from agencies)