‘Shame’ is the only word that comes to our mind; as one writes today, out of conviction and humiliation, as the story of the protesting wrestlers unfold at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi under the scorching heat of the April sun. They are the Olympians and Olympic medallists and not just any ordinary wrestlers from anywhere, one should remember; and one could still vividly visualize the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The images of a hefty girl suddenly started flashing up on the television screens; that girl was seen on top of her coach’s shoulders, frantically waving the tricolour. That was Sakshi Malik, winning bronze for India – indeed a fan-boy moment for many of us back then, at that juncture. But today, after seven years from that point of time, as we witness in shock and amazement, that same face breaking down in uncontrollable tears of grief and humiliation, crying out for justice, security and respect – we can only bow down our heads and offer our unconditional ‘shame’ and ‘apologies’ to her. We have deprived them of honour and dignity and disrespected them in public.

Their allegations are serious. They level their charges against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, a member of the parliament from the BJP, and also the incumbent president of the Wrestling Federation of India. As some alleviatory measures to pacify the protesting wrestlers, the Department of Sports, Government of India, has ‘kindly’ declared the recent elections of WFI null and void, thus removing Mr. Singh from his post temporarily as the protest rages on. The allegations against Mr. Singh are that of sexual harassment, filed by women wrestlers including a minor who was 16 years old at the time of the incident. In January 2023, the wrestlers protested in the form of a ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and consequently an oversight committee was formed by the Sports Ministry to look into the matter. At that time fifteen women wrestlers including the minor submitted their accusations in front of the committee which was headed by another Olympic Medallist, boxer Mary Kom as per reports. After two and a half months, till now no findings are submitted on behalf of the committee. Rather, by other means, defamation of the wrestlers who have raised these concerns have started to pour in through social media and different other channels, consequently raising public confusions regarding their honesty and integrity in this matter of serious concern. They are being threatened, harassed or are being offered bribes to shut their mouths and take back their allegations.

Wrestlers who are in the forefront of these recent protests include Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, together they have bagged 15 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze medals at different top-notch international wrestling events including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Championships and World Wrestling Championships to name a few. To add to that, all three of them have won gold in their respective weight categories in the latest edition of the Commonwealth Games that was held in Birmingham in 2022. Sakshi Malik broke down in front of the television cameras, saying, “Those people behind our backs are claiming that since we are finished as career-wrestlers, for that reason we are taking this route to garner some spotlight or media attention today. I wish to remind them that we have all won gold in the last Commonwealth Championship in Birmingham.” This is where we stand, in a sad country for Olympians.

The wrestlers approached New Delhi police authorities to lodge a written complaint and file an FIR against Mr. Brijbhusan Sharan Singh, but the police authorities played with the complaint, refusing to accept it or to lodge an FIR against the accused in this context. Later, on Tuesday, 25^th April, 2023 as the wrestlers approached the apex court of the country, the Chief Justice of India has asked Delhi Police to respond with proper excuses why the matter was not taken into consideration or on what grounds they have failed to register an FIR against the accused concerned. Seven of the fifteen previous wrestlers, who have raised their allegations as victims prior in front of the oversight committee, appeared before the apex court on Tuesday. This representation included the minor female wrestler, whose allegations clearly prepare the grounds to charge Mr. Singh under the POCSO act of 2012, which reiterates the severity and sensitivity of the incidents.

Mr. Singh, also boasts of a star-studded career in ‘wrestling politics’, having previously been charged with attempts to murder, dacoity, and other felonies like tampering of evidence materials etc., over the past three decades of his life. He has also been named in the Babri Mosque Demolition case and is also accused for slapping an athlete in public in 2021, later refusing to apologize for the same. The wrestlers have prayed before the apex court to protect the identities of those who have been sexually exploited by Mr. Singh, as under his instructions other members of the Federation have started releasing their names out in public, in complete violation of court directives, where disclosing the names of sexually exploited victims, is a serious offence, punishable by law in this country.

The wrestlers have welcomed the Supreme Court initiative as of now and yet, confirmed that their sit-in protest will continue until quantitative action is taken against Mr. Singh. They have welcomed people from all walks of life, and all fronts and parties to join them in their support, and raise the unanimous voice against the wrongdoings of the Wrestling Federation of India, which is also governed by the Indian Olympic Committee as per regulations.

We can only offer our most sincere apologies to Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and other such icons who are now spending sleepless nights under the open sky with no protection against the elements, for we as a nation have failed them. We have supplied them with a government, an administration, a federation along with a few ‘conman’ administrators, who have dared to exploit them, the athletes, who are our national assets and who have brought laurels from abroad but are now compelled to sleep on the streets to protect the basic dignity of their successors.

Writer : Essayist, Short Story Writer

Picture : Collected