Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia, a key figure leading the protest against wrestling federation chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges, has revealed that the government instructed the protesters not to discuss their late-night meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Punia denied any “setting” or deal with the Home Minister, clarifying that Amit Shah informed them that an investigation was underway. He affirmed that the protest movement would persist, stating, “We have been strategizing on how to take it forward.”
Regarding rumors of a deal made during the meeting with Amit Shah, Punia stated that the government asked them to keep the meeting confidential, but information was leaked from there. He expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response, asserting that their demands were not being met. Punia, along with Sakshee Malikkh, Sangita Phogat, and Satyawart Kadian, were present during the discussions with Shah, where they demanded an impartial probe and swift action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
Amit Shah assured the wrestlers that the law would be applied equally to everyone, urging them to let the legal process take its course. Punia revealed that they questioned the Home Minister about why Singh had not been arrested yet and whether he was being shielded. Shah assured them that the matter was being discussed, and action would be taken. However, Punia made it clear that they would not withdraw the protest based solely on assurances, citing previous instances where the government’s promises were not fulfilled.
Addressing speculation that the protests would subside after the wrestlers returned to their Railway jobs, Punia clarified that they had only briefly reported back to work to sign in after being evicted from the protest site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He emphasized their commitment to the cause, stating that they were prepared to quit their government jobs if it became an obstacle to their agitation.
Punia dismissed rumors suggesting that the minor girl had withdrawn her complaint, highlighting the conflicting statements between the girl’s father, who denied the allegations, and the anonymous sources spreading such information. He also criticized Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for accusing the wrestlers of changing their stance, asserting that the minister should remain silent. Punia accused the government of misleading the athletes, claiming they were not consulted before announcing the probe committee.
The Delhi Police has recorded statements from several members of the Wrestling Federation of India and summoned staff members from Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s residence for questioning regarding the sexual harassment case. In related news, the Bharatiya Kisan Union announced the postponement of their planned protest on June 9, supporting the wrestlers’ ongoing discussions with the government and offering future support on a date decided by the wrestlers.
