Home Minister Amit Shah meets protesting wrestlers, asks them to trust the law

Protesting Indian wrestlers met Home Minister Amit Shah late on Saturday evening at his Delhi home.

Sources say the meeting that began at 11 pm lasted for more than an hour and that it was attended by Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sangita Phogat and Satyawart Kadian.

visuals of champions Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat being pinned onto the ground by the police had evoked shock and outrage across the country.
Visuals of champions Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat being pinned onto the ground by the police had evoked shock and outrage across the country. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@tehseenp

The wrestlers demanded an impartial probe and quick action against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, including a minor.

Amit Shah reportedly assured the wrestlers that the law would be impartial. 

"Let the law take its own course," he reportedly told the wrestlers. 

According to NDTV, the protesting wrestlers had sought a meeting with Shah after their five-day deadline for action against the wrestling federation chief ended on Saturday.

The wrestlers, who allege that their protest against the wrestling federation chief has been largely ignored, had last month announced their decision to immerse their medals into the river Ganga in Haridwar.

They, however, temporarily shelved their plan after intervention from farmer leader Naresh Tikait.

Protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (left) and Sangita Phogat in police custody. Photo courtesy Twitter/@VineshPhogat
Protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (left) and Sangita Phogat in police custody. Photo courtesy Twitter/@VineshPhogat

Earlier, visuals of champions Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat being pinned onto the ground by the police had evoked shock and outrage across the country. The Delhi Police had accused the protesting wrestlers of rioting during their protest march to the new parliament.

The Delhi Police, who shut the Jantar Mantar protest site to the wrestlers after the crackdown, said they will also not be allowed to hold a protest at India Gate.

Two First Information Reports or FIRs have been filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Of the two FIRs, one is based on combined complaints of six adult wrestlers, and a separate one is based on the complaint of the father of an underage wrestler.

Brij Bhushan issued a defiant statement refuting all charges. "If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," he had said last week.

Internationally, the United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport's governing body, issued a statement condemning the detention of the wrestlers and criticising the "lack of results" in the investigations against Brij Bhushan Singh. The UWW reminded the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of its promise to hold fresh elections for the WFI within 45 days and warned that failure to do so may lead to the suspension of the federation.