Wrestlers' Protest: 'WFI officials pressuring girls to withdraw complaints,' alleges Bajrang Punia

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As the ongoing wrestlers' protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered its third day on Tuesday (April 25), the grapplers moved to the Supreme Court and found support from the Congress party and Khap Panchayats.

The wrestlers filed a plea with the apex court, seeking an FIR against the Wrestling Federation of India's former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Seven female wrestlers have filed sexual harassment complaints against the BJP MP from Gonda.

Posting the hearing on the case to Friday (April 28), the top court has sought a response from Delhi Police on the sexual harassment complaint filed by seven woman wrestlers. (Wrestlers' Protest: Sports Authority of India senior official meets Bajrang Punia and others)

Later in the day, while addressing media persons at the sit-in site, the grapplers alleged that WFI officials - the stooges of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh - are trying to bribe and pressurise all the girls who have filed their complaints.

Punia - the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist - went on to say that the government and police will be responsible should anything happen to those girls as they are not aware how the names of the girls have been disclosed to the WFI officials.

"I don't know how this has happened but the girls who have complained are being pressured. WFI officials are taking money to their homes. If something happens to those girls, the police and the government will be responsible for this. I don't know the names were disclosed," Punia said.

The Haryana grappler further claimed, "They have gone to every girl who has complained against WFI Chief." (Wrestlers' Protest: Sports Ministry calls off WFI elections in May; asks IOA to form ad-hoc committee)

Rio Olympics bronze medal winner Sakshi Malik claimed that Babita Phogat - who was part of the oversight committee headed by MC Mary Kom - has alleged that her signature was taken forcibly and she didn't get access to the report. (Wrestlers' Protest: 'Athletes are on road, PM is silent,' say grapplers)

"Babita Phogat has come forward and she has said that her signature was forced and she didn't get access to the report. They said she is from a family. If she is from our family then why she was added to the committee?" asked Sakshi.

Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat thanked the Chief Justice of India for taking cognisance of their plea and restoring the common man's faith in the judicial system.

Vinesh said, "We are thankful to CJI Chandrachud sir for taking note of our complaint. We are grateful to the country for supporting us and Supreme Court for restoring our faith in the judicial system."

"We are grateful to Narender Hooda sir and Kapil Sibal Sir. The sport will suffer due to politics. Thank you for supporting us," she added further.

Bajrang went on to say that every political party be it the ruling BJP or the opposition should support the wrestlers and they have no animosity towards any party.

"People are coming forward to support us. BJP is also welcomed here. We don't have a problem with one single party. We are not here for politics, we are not sleeping here willingly." (Wrestlers' Protest: IOA to host Executive Council meeting on Thursday to discuss WFI elections)

"We have the support of the wrestlers. They are not here because they have important tournaments coming up. We understand how important is for them to play," Bajrang said while highlighting the plight of wrestlers and hoping the issue gets resolved soon.

When asked about their future course of action now that the matter has been listed to the Supreme Court, Vinesh said the wrestlers will follow the court's orders and also claimed that the efforts to silence and break them will bear no fruits.

"We will follow every order directed by Supreme Court. Stop your efforts of breaking us, you can't do this. Once we get justice, all the girls who are silent will speak up. All the khaps are with these players and we will support them till justice is delivered," she added further.