Indian wrestlers halt plan to immerse medals in Ganga, Report .Protesting Indian wrestlers, gathered at Uttarakhand’s Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga today decided to halt their plan following the request from farmer leader of the country Naresh Tikait, who sought a five-day time from them. The wrestlers had earlier decided to immerse their medals in river Ganga as a mark of protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, media reports said.
The wrestlers have been protesting against the WFI chief, who is also a BJP MP, demanding his arrest since April 23. If the athletes stuck to their resolve, India could have lost two Olympic medals, and a handful of Commonwealth Games and World Championship medals, NDTV reported.
Indian wrestlers halt plan to immerse medals in Ganga, Report
Sakshi Malik has won one Olympic bronze and three medals at the Commonwealth Games. Vinesh Phogat has won two World Championship medals, two medals at Asiad and three Commonwealth Games medals. Bajrang Punia has won an Olympic bronze, four World Championships medals, two Asian Games and three Commonwealth Games medals.
The wrestlers, who allege that their protest against wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been largely ignored, had announced their decision to consign the medals to Ganga in an emotive message earlier today, NDTV says.”It seems that these medals decorated around our necks have no meaning anymore,” read a statement in Hindi, tweeted out by top athletes including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.
The Delhi Police, who shut the Jantar Mantar protest site to the wrestlers after Sunday’s crackdown, said they will not be allowed to hold a protest at India Gate. The Delhi Police had accused the protesting wrestlers of rioting on Sunday, saying they broke the law in a frenzy despite repeated requests.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann have slammed the BJP-led Central government. “The whole country is shocked… Now the Prime Minister should leave his arrogance,” read a tweet from Mr Kejriwal.Calling the situation “shameful”, Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “If the voice is not raised in time, then the next turn will be to shed the assets of the country’s democracy”.
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