The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for justice for female wrestlers who have alleged harassment by Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh. AAP National Spokesperson Ms Reena Gupta, has questioned the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stance on the matter and accused them of protecting their MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh instead of registering an FIR against him. Ms Gupta has also raised concerns over the pressure being exerted on the wrestlers to withdraw their charges and roll back their Dharna at Jantar Mantar. She has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue and questioned his silence despite being vocal about athletes when they win medals for the country.
The AAP has also criticised the delay in the submission of the report by the committee formed to look into the matter, which was supposed to submit its report in four weeks but failed to do so even after four months. Ms Reena Gupta has demanded answers from Union Sports Minister and Smriti Irani for their silence on the issue. She has also questioned the appointment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as the President of Wrestling Federation of India, despite the cases of TADA and attempt to murder against him. She has asked why the BJP is kneeling before the might of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The AAP has called for justice for the female wrestlers and urged the BJP to take action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The party has pledged to stand with the wrestlers in their fight for justice and has called for a fair investigation into the matter.
At a press conference held today at the party headquarters, AAP National Spokesperson Ms Reena Gupta expressed concern over the ongoing protests by wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. Ms Gupta highlighted the achievements of wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia who have brought glory to the country with their medals in various international games including the Olympics, Commonwealth, and Asian Games.
Despite their achievements, the wrestlers were protesting for the second time due to alleged harassment by Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Ms Reena Gupta revealed that she had personally met with the wrestlers on the instructions of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal and was moved to tears by their brave struggle.
Ms Reena Gupta urged the whole country to stand with the wrestlers and show solidarity in their fight for justice. She emphasised the importance of protecting the honour and dignity of our athletes who have represented the country on the global stage and called for swift action to be taken against those responsible for their harassment.
The AAP Spokesperson brought attention to the grave allegations made by over one thousand wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India President, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The accusations include sexual exploitation, dictatorship, use of abusive language, mental harassment, and threats of retaliation against those who protest. Ms Gupta questioned how Brij Bhushan Singh had the audacity to exploit players who had brought medals for the country, and drew attention to the wider issue of sexual abuse within the Bharatiya Janata Party. She cited examples of Uttar Pradesh’s Kuldeep Sengar, Haryana’s Minister Sandeep Singh, and the leaders who rallied in support of the rapists in Kathua. She further emphasised the need to protect girls from the clutches of BJP goons and rapists, instead of the empty slogan of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.
Ms Reena Gupta also pointed out that Brij Bhushan Singh, the current President of the Wrestling Federation of India, is a Bahubali MP of BJP, who has previously been imprisoned for aiding Dawood Ibrahim. Ms Gupta asked why the Prime Minister would make such a person with a criminal history the President of Wrestling Federation of India. She also raised concerns about the lack of action from the Delhi Police in registering an FIR against the accused despite the large number of female wrestlers coming forward with allegations.
Ms Reena Gupta also criticised the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their lack of action in addressing the allegations of sexual exploitation, dictatorship, and mental harassment made by over a thousand wrestlers against the President of Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She stated that the PM and BJP leaders have previously shown support for wrestlers after they won medals, but are now betraying them by protecting a criminal MP instead of registering an FIR on the complaint of female wrestlers.
Ms Reena Gupta also pointed out that the central government’s lawyer misled the Supreme Court by saying that an investigation is needed before an FIR can be registered, contrary to the court’s guideline that no preliminary inquiry is required for a suspected offence. She further accused the BJP and the Delhi Police of trying to save the criminal MP instead of supporting the wrestlers.
She emphasised that a committee was formed in January after the wrestlers sat on a dharna, but the report has not yet been submitted. She criticised the lack of action and support from the Union Sports Minister and WCD Minister Smriti Irani and called for justice for the wrestlers and warned that failure to do so would discourage parents from allowing their daughters to pursue sports. She expressed her support for the wrestlers and stated that the Aam Aadmi Party stands with them in their fight. Additionally, the Delhi Women’s Commission Chairperson Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to the Delhi Police regarding this matter.
