Wrestlers protest: 'Girls being pressurised', says Sakshee Malikkh as clouds hover over Asian Games participation Sonipat (Haryana): In a major development in the ongoing wrestlers' protest, grappler Sakshee Malikkh on Saturday said that the wrestlers would participate in Asian Games only when all their issues are resolved.
"We will participate in Asian Games only when all these issues will be resolved. You can't understand what we're going through mentally each day," Sakshee told the media in Sonipat. Asked about the minor victim backtracking from her statement alleging sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Sakshee pointed out that there was pressure being put on the girls to compromise.
"Till the time, he is out, this environment of fear and pressure would remain on the girls. That is why from day one, we have been shouting and demanding his arrest. We have been saying that if he (Sharan Singh) is arrested, he won't be able to pressurise anyone. We have seen how the minor girl's statement has changed. If this continues, the will of girls will gradually break," the ace wrestler said.
Earlier on Thursday, the father of the minor wrestler said they had 'intentionally' filed a false police complaint of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. The motive behind the 'false accusation' was their desire to seek revenge against Singh for what he perceived as an injustice against his daughter.
Asked about international wrestling referee Jagbir Singh's statement that Sharan Singh touched a woman wrestler inappropriately in March 2022, Sakshee said: "He has been part of the competitions. He is a one-class referee and has seen it with his own eyes."
Sakshee and Olympian Bajrang Punia attended a maha panchayat in Sonepat called on Saturday called on behalf of agitating wrestlers who have been demanding the resignation of the WFI president over allegations of sexual harassment. Punia, as per reports, said that the agitating players will decide their next line of action only after discussing with Khap Panchayats especially since the POCSO Act may be dropped from the case as the minor's father has backtracked from her statement.
Earlier, Punia said that they will put forward their discussions with the government before the people supporting them during the Panchayat being held in Sonipat. "Whatever talks we had with the government, we will discuss that with the people who are supporting and standing with us...," Punia was quoted as having said by news agency ANI.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had said on Thursday that the talks with protesting wrestlers were positive and decisions were taken on various demands. He said there was not only discussion on their demands but decisions were also taken.
Also read: 'Protest will continue': Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat resume duties in Railways
