Wrestlers' Protest: 'Athletes are on road, PM is silent,' say grapplers

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The wrestlers' protest on Monday took a new turn as the elite athletes threatened to move the Supreme Court seeking an FIR on the Wrestling Federation of India's former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers held a press conference at the sit-in site soon after and expressed their disappointment that the nation's Prime Minister hasn't said a word yet.

"Ask the Prime Minister why are you silent now," said Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar. "When players get medals you stand with them. When they are on the road then you are silent."

Earlier on Monday the Union Sports Ministry announced that WFI's proposed elections on May 7 stand null and void and has asked International Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc committee to see through a fresh election process. The committee will also see the day-to-day activity of the wrestling body for the next 45 days.

The protesting wrestlers -- led by Bajrang, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik -- said they are not falling for any of the gimmicks of the sports ministry and IOA. Sakshi claimed that despite the formation of the last Oversight Committee, Brij Bhushan's stooges continued to run the WFI.

The 2016 Rio Olympic medallist added that they have pinned their hopes on the Indian judiciary's apex body and will continue their sit-in until justice is done.

"Right now we are not going to fall for any of the false promises (Of IOA). WFI office was open despite the last committee and his (Brij Bhushan) people are running the office to this day. But we don't want to run the federation. We want an FIR against Brij Bhushan for sexual harassment. We want SC to give us justice. Till then we are here," said Sakshi.

She further added that Brij Bhushan Singh, an incumbent BJP MP from Kaiserganj (UP), is walking free now because he has the backing of his political party. She also expressed disappointment with efforts being made to malign their effort by giving it political colour and added that this is a battle of truth against power and money.

"It is a shame that this is being asked of us if this is a Haryana vs UP battle. This isn't BJP vs Congress as well. When we athletes win medals, we don't win it for Haryana, we win it for India. We are all Indians here. Definitely, Brij Bhushan is getting the advantage because he is from BJP. He has the power of money, we have the power of truth," she said.

Vinesh Phogat meanwhile added that fellow wrestler Babita Phogat, who was added to the earlier Oversight Committee after wrestlers feared a biased investigation, is not part of their protest as she has joined BJP and they don't trust her now.