Wrestlers' Protest: Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik Make 5 Demands After Key Meet With Union Minister
The wrestlers have been protesting against Brij Bhushan, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of seven women wrestlers, including a minor. So far, two FIRs have been lodged against Brij Bhushan, and he has been booked under the POCSO Act.
A crucial meeting between top wrestlers led by Bajrang Punia and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur began at his residence on Wednesday, as the government continued its effort to reach out to the wrestlers who have been protesting since January this year against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
wrestlers-protest
Demands made after meeting
The meeting was called by Thakur to break the impasse. It is the second meeting between the government and protesting wrestlers, who met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday night.
The wrestlers have been protesting against Brij Bhushan, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of seven women wrestlers, including a minor. So far, two FIRs have been lodged against Brij Bhushan, and he has been booked under the POCSO Act.
5 demands by protesting wrestlers
In the meeting with the union minister today, the top wrestlers made five major demands.
- The wrestlers have demanded that a woman should take over as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
- Brij Bhushan Singh and no one from his family will be a part of the wrestling federation.
- The protesting wrestlers have called for "free and fair" elections to the wrestling body whose leadership has been accused of corruption and mismanagement.
- The wrestlers have also demanded that the FIR registered against them for allegedly violating law and order in connection with a scuffle that broke out at Jantar Mantar on April 28 be revoked.
- And finally, the wrestlers reiterated their calls for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's arrest over alleged sexual harassment charges.
Hours after Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur invited the wrestlers for talks again on Wednesday, Sakshi Malik said that they are not ending their protest and are waiting to see what the government has to offer them.
wrestlers-protest
¡°We are not ending our protest. We will see what proposal the government will offer to us. Our main demand is that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan should be arrested,¡± said wrestler Sakshi Malik.
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