Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik on Saturday said that the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will only participate in the upcoming Asian Games if their ongoing issues are resolved.
Ms. Malik’s remarks come after the wrestlers organised a mahapanchayat with various khap leaders at Sonipat in Haryana.
“We will participate in the Asian Games only if all our issues are resolved. You don’t understand what we’re going through mentally every day,” she told reporters.
Some of India’s top wrestlers, including Ms. Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, have been demanding the arrest of Mr. Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.
Mr. Punia said that a decision would be taken with respect to continuing the stir if the government did not take action by June 15.
Also read | Wrestlers didn’t make hate speech or commit cognisable offence: Delhi Police to court
“If the government does not move forward strongly by June 15, we will take a big decision on June 16 or 17. The khap leaders today decided that they will wait till June 15 based on what the players discussed [in Wednesday’s meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur],” said Mr. Punia.
The Sports Minister had said that the police probe in the matter would be completed by June 15 and a chargesheet filed. Mr. Thakur also heard the wrestlers’ other demands, including the holding of WFI elections by June 30 and the withdrawal of FIRs against the wrestlers, and assured them of full cooperation from the government.
Speaking to The Hindu, Sakshi’s mother Sudesh Malik said that due to the ongoing stir, the players were not able to focus on their game. “How will they go for trials if they’re not able to practise or focus on the game? They are going through torture with all this,” she said, adding that they wanted a resolution soon.
She also denied the alleged differences between Ms. Phogat and others, and said that a section of media was “spreading rumours to derail the movement”.
“Somvir Rathee (Ms. Phogat’s husband) was present at the Sonipat mahapanchayat and was among the organisers. There is no rift between any of them,” she said, adding that Ms. Phogat’s health had worsened as she had been “disturbed by the events of May 28 at Jantar Mantar and May 30 at Haridwar”.
When asked about the minor complainant and her father changing statements against Mr. Singh, Ms. Sudesh Malik alleged that it was done “under pressure”.
“The accused is a powerful person and is roaming free and the victims and their families are receiving threats every day. We fear that more girls might do the same due to pressure,” she said.
