The wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar has been ongoing since April 23, and they have accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, of sexual harassment. On May 4, scuffles broke out between protesters and Delhi Police personnel, leaving at least three wrestlers injured. Speaking to reporters, senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda urged people to rise above party politics and support the wrestlers. Hooda visited Jantar Mantar later in the day to meet with protesters and show his support. The protesters are demanding criminal action against Singh for alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, including a minor.
On the scuffle between the protesters and Delhi Police personnel on Wednesday night, the former Haryana chief minister said, “Police personnel are the protectors. If they misbehave, then who will the players trust?” “The job of the police is not to torture the victims but to provide them justice,” he said.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticized the Delhi Police over the scuffle with the wrestlers who are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Hooda said that police personnel are supposed to be protectors and if they misbehave, it erodes the trust of the players. He added that the police’s job is to provide justice to the victims, not to torture them. The protesters have accused Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation of female wrestlers, including a minor. Three wrestlers were reportedly injured in the scuffle with police.
