None of the protesting wrestlers had anticipated this outcome on Thursday morning, expressing their faith in the judiciary during several media interactions after the government-appointed oversight committee refused to make public the findings of the report against Singh and the Delhi police delayed filing of FIR despite one of the seven complainants being a minor.
Wrestlers’ Protest: Live Updates
After the unsavoury episode when two protestors suffered injuries following a showdown between the agitating wrestlers and Delhi police, the general view was that the top court might look at the whole situation sympathetically. However, the CJI-led two-judge bench of the SC strictly went by the rulebook and took note of the fact that FIRs had been registered by the Delhi police against Singh, which was the main prayer of the women wrestlers.
The wrestlers, nonetheless, have vowed to continue with their sit-in at Jantar Mantar to press for their demands of Singh’s arrest.
“We respect the SC’s judgement and we will comply with its directive. Their lawyer told the court that two victims are yet to record their statements under Sec 161 of the CrPC. We want the victims’ statements to be recorded under Sec 164 too. If things don’t move fast enough, we have all the options open. The SC has asked us to move to the magistrate or Delhi High Court if we are not satisfied with the pace of the investigation. We also have the option of going back to the SC if we are not satisfied with the Delhi police probe. So, we have all the options open. The protest will go on. We will not leave the site,” Vinesh Phogat said.
Sakshee Malikkh said, “We know the court cannot ask the police to arrest anyone without an investigation. The victims have to first register their complaints. That is why we are not disappointed with the SC. It did its job. It got the FIR done, and now the investigation needs to start. The moot point is that dharna will continue no matter what.”
The wrestlers have also offered to return their medals won at national and international levels, along with various government honours, to protest the Delhi Police’s alleged atrocity against them after a scuffle had broken out with the wrestlers when they tried to bring in extra mattresses and wooden benches to the site.
“If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? It was not just me. Vinesh and Sakshee were also sitting there. We are Padma Shri, Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees. We have done so much for the country and look what we got in return – police brutality,” Bajrang, an Olympic bronze medallist, said.
Vinesh, who received Khel Ratna in 2020, added, “Take it (medals) all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect but we are being crushed under their feet. Do all men have the right to abuse women? We will return our medals and government honours. We are ready to sacrifice our lives but please get us justice.”
Bajrang, understanding that their protest is becoming political with each passing day, appealed to politicians to stop hijacking their movement. “We never asked people to use this platform for politics. Anybody who wants to support us is welcome but we don’t want the support of any particular political party, nor do we want politicians to hijack our protest. We will also speak to khap panchayats, student unions, labour organisations and farm organisations in this regard.”
On Thursday, politicians such as Bhupinder Singh Hooda, his son Deepender Singh Hooda, Jayant Chaudhary and Chandra Shekhar Azad, apart from farmer leader Rakesh Tikait came to meet the wrestlers.
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