Amit Shah meets protesting wrestlers, urges them to ‘let law take its course’

Update: 2023-06-05 10:09 GMT
Sakshee Malikkh told reporters that the wrestlers are chalking out their strategy to take the fight forward | Photo: Twitter/Vinesh Phogat

Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly met the wrestlers protesting against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh, and assured them that the law is the same for everyone.

Reports said Olympians including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik as well as Vinesh Phogat, who have been at the forefront of the protest, met Shah at his residence in Delhi on Saturday (June 3) evening.

Watch | President should rise to the occasion for wrestlers: Ranjana Kumari | Capital Beat

The wrestlers demanded Shah to launch an impartial investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against the WFI chief by seven female wrestlers and his arrest.

The home minister reportedly told the delegation that the law is the same for everyone and urged them to allow it to take its due course.

The meeting reportedly began at 11 pm and lasted for more than an hour, sources told the media.

Punia has also confirmed to NDTV about the meeting.

Also read: Members of 1983 World Cup winning team urge wrestlers not to take hasty decision

Wrestlers Sangita Phogat and Satyawart Kadian, who is married to Sakshi Malik, also attended the meeting.

The meeting comes days after the wrestlers announced that they will immerse their medals in the Ganges at Haridwar if Singh is not arrested. They, however, suspended the protest after farmer leader Naresh Tikait requested them not to do so.

Also read: Wrestlers accuse WFI chief of intimidation, stalking, sexual harassment in two FIRs

The Delhi Police has filed FIRs against the protesters accusing them of rioting during a march to the new Parliament building on the day of its inauguration on May 28. Thereafter, the protesters were denied permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar, where they have been holding the agitation.

Delhi Police have filed two FIRs against WFI chief Singh – one based on the complaints of six adult wrestlers and another on the complaint of the father of a minor female wrestler.

Watch | Wrestlers’ stir | People will find new ways to protest: Activists at Delhi rally

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