NEW DELHI: The protesting wrestlers are sensing that WFI chief won’t be arrested anytime soon with Vinesh Phogat alleging on Sunday that the government is trying to protect Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh.
The wrestlers had halted their stir after getting an assurance from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on June 7 that a charge sheet will be filed against Singh by June 15.
The wrestlers have been demanding Singh’s arrest since they resumed their agitation against Singh on April 23 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The government has accepted several of the wrestlers’ demands, including that none of Singh’s family members or associates will be allowed to contest the impending WFI polls.
However, the wrestlers, led by Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Phogat, have said they will not end their protest unless Singh is put behind bars.
Phogat, the double world medallist, on Sunday joined the protesting farmers in Punjab and on her way spoke to the media at Khatkar Toll Plaza in Haryana.
Asked about the meeting the wrestlers had with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Phogat said, “They had given a few proposals that they can do that much for us but except the arrest of Brij Bhushan, everything is happening.”1
On being asked why Singh is not being arrested, the firebrand wrestler shot back.
“You have to ask Amit Shah, why he (WFI chief) is not being arrested. He is such a powerful man that the government is trying to shield him. So getting him arrested is not easy but we are continuing our fight.”
Almost half-the-year has passed but the wresters’ protest is continuing. Phogat said she can’t tell when will their protest end.
“I can’t tell you how long our protest will linger, the day he is arrested we will also end our protest. But if justice comes late, what’s the point.”
“Our fight may end one day but the senior citizens of the country are still fighting. We are with them, so a few fights won’t end on this Earth. People are being martyred, people are in grief, and unemployment is hitting the youth, the government must think about all these issues.”
“It (Government) must listen if so many people have come forward to raise their voice. The government should not ignore them.”
When asked if she thinks, monarchy, instead of democracy is being followed in the country, “There is no doubt that,” she replied.
Later she reached Patiala and joined the farmers’ protest against Punjab State Power Corporation Limited ( PSPCL).
The farmers, belonging to Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), have been protesting against the delay in giving new connections to the farmers, the delay in the release of pending tubewell connections and the installation of smart meters.
Speaking there, Vinesh said, “Is it necessary that people will have to sit on streets for everything? It is not good for the country. They have been sitting here, leaving behind their families. The governments are made to serve people not to make them sad.”
With various farmers’ union coming in support of wrestlers, Bajrang returned the favour with a tweet in their support.
किसान MSP माँग रहे हैं यानी अपनी फसलों का न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य. पूरे देश का पेट भरने वाले किसान सारा साल खेत में मेहनत करते हैं. क्या उनकी मेहनत और फसल के बदले उसको सही दाम नहीं मिलने चाहिए. हम पहलवान किसानों के इस संघर्ष में उनके साथ हैं. हम लोग इन्हीं परिवारों से आते हैं.
— Bajrang Punia