New Delhi / Haridwar, May 30 (). A number of agitating wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Poonia, handed over their medals to Naresh Tikait, head of the Bharatiya Kisan Union and Balyan Khap, who had reached Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to stop them from throwing their medals in the Ganges.
Agitating wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. In protest against the non-fulfillment of the demand for Singh’s arrest, he reached Haridwar on the pretext of his medal in the Ganges.
Tikait, along with the wrestlers, has now given the government five days to meet their demands, failing which the wrestlers will go ahead with their decision to immerse their medals in the Ganges.
A large number of people gathered at Har Ki Pauri and witnessed the poignant protest of the wrestlers carrying their World Championship and Olympic medals.
Sakshi, Vinesh and Vinesh’s cousin Sangeeta look emotional as they were kept in custody for eight hours after being dragged on the road near Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday and all belongings including tarpaulins, mats, beds were removed from the protest site were consoled by their husbands. Many of his supporters formed a security cordon at the ghat.
Earlier, after reaching Har Ki Pauri, the wrestlers stood in silence for about 20 minutes. After this he sat on the banks of the Ganges with the medal in his hands. At that time his expressions were showing deep anguish.
The wrestlers have also announced that after the medal immersion, they will go to Delhi for a hunger strike at India Gate, but Delhi Police sources said that they will not be allowed to protest at the National Memorial.
A police source said, so far no formal request has been received from the wrestlers. The wrestlers have to follow the protocol of giving a written request letter to the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) before proceeding for any performance. Their request will be decided on the basis of established guidelines and procedures.
India Gate is not a protest site and the police will not allow wrestlers to protest there, said the source. We will suggest alternative sites including Ramlila Maidan and Burari for the protest.
SGK
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