Wrestlers Protest: Delhi Police misbehaving with us, says Bajrang Punia

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As the Wrestlers Protest entered the sixth day on Saturday, Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia said Delhi Police are trying different antics to make the wrestlers leave the site of the sit-in near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The wrestlers earlier took to social media at midnight to share the same and Bajrang added that one of the workers, who brought bed mattresses and other necessities to the site, has not reached home, fearing he was held by the police.

Photo Credit: PTI

"We highlighted this on social media that they cut the electricity supply at night and also didn't allow the food and water to be delivered to us," said Bajrang. "We made arrangements for mattresses and packages, police had them removed.

"One of the workers, who brought the mattress, has not reached home yet. Police are misbehaving with the athletes as well. This is the respect we are getting in this country."

Vinesh Phogat, who is also one of the leading faces of the Wrestlers Protest, has been down with a fever last night and spoke to the media with a broken voice, requesting the Delhi Police and authorities to peacefully carry out their protest.

Earlier, the wrestlers said they will carry on with their protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh despite the FIR was filed against the BJP MLA. The wrestlers said they have little faith in the police of a fair investigation and will continue their protest untill the justice is served through court procedure.

Bajrang also addressed the rumours of Bajrang and other wrestlers holding the protest for political gains with key members of the opposition parties, including Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress, showing solidarity with them at the protest site.

Bajrang reaffirmed that the protest remains against Brij Bhushan and his wrongdoing against the female wrestlers while in charge of the wrestling federation for over a decade. The five-time World Championship medallist requested not to give their protest any different direction or give it a political colour.

"Some people are trying to give this a political colour but we are rejecting such claims. we are not here for any political gain but to save Indian wrestling. This fight is for the respect of our women and has nothing to do with politics.

"I request nobody uses this sensitive matter for political gains. This is the battle of athletes for the justice of the women, please don't give it any other direction," said Bajrang.

Brij Bhushan earlier vehemently denied the accusation of sexual harassment and said that the wrestlers have political backing and are leveling fake charges against him by bringing in minor girls, who have nothing to do with him. Bajrang countered the BJP MP, asking how he knows that one of the complainants is a minor, who only filed her complaint to the police and not to the Oversight Committee.

"Brij Bhushan claimed that we bring up new names who level sexual harassment charges against him. I will like to tell him, these are no new girls but are his victims, who are slowly reaching out to us to share the wrong he did to them as they hope for justice.

"And through the media, I will like to ask him how he knows that one of the complainants was minor. She never gave her statement to the committee but to the police. Isn't this confidential information? It should be asked who is leaking him such sensitive information," asked Bajrang.

During an earlier press conference, Bajrang also claimed that the minor wrestlers' family is also being pressured by Brij Bhushan's stooges to take back her complaint.