Wrestlers protest and arrests - Special Police CP explains

Wrestlers Protest takes an ugly turn with the arrests of several noted medalists who had joined in and went ahead to disrupt the inaugural of the new parliament building at New Delhi. 

“ We respect sportspersons, but won’t allow anything to disrupt new Parliament’s inauguration… ”

said, Delhi Police Special CP.

Women wrestlers had called to hold Maha Panchayat at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on May 28, on the very day of the inauguration of new Parliament complex. Khap Panchayat leaders and farmers have also called to join them, hence, the security had been tightened at several locations in Delhi and its borders. Informing about the developments, Special CP Delhi Police Dependra Pathak explained,

“We respect the sportspersons but we will not allow anything to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The entire Delhi Police is on its toes to make sure the inauguration ceremony is conducted smoothly. The police forces have been deployed at strategic locations.”

Excerpts from Wikipedia as follows:

Reason of Protest:

In January 2023, thirty Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medalists, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik, Bajrang Punia, among others, staged a sit-in accusing Wrestling Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and its coaches of sexually harassing female players for years, demanding disbanding of the federation. The protests were called off in January 2023 due to the government promise of creating an oversight committee to investigate the allegations.

Demands:

The accused Brij Bhushan be arrested and be investigated for the alleged crimes

April 2023;

The wrestlers resumed protests in April 2023 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan and the report by the government appointed committee be made public, claiming that nothing has been done to resolve their issues. The wrestlers allege that the harassment is going on since 2012, with at least four incidents happening at Brij Bhushan's MP bungalow which also serves as the World Federation of India office. 

During new parliament inauguration

After the announcement that PM Modi will inaugurate the new parliament on 28 May 2023, the protestors had planned organisation of women's 'Mahapanchayat' at the parliament inauguration ceremony. Delhi Police had asked for permission to convert the MCD School, Kanjhawala into a temporary jail which was refused by the mayor. Further, the police blocked off Delhi borders setting up stone barricades to stop the supporters of protests. When they marched towards the new parliament building on 28 May, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were detained by the Delhi Police. The police then booked 700 people, including 109 protesters on charges of rioting and obstructing public servants in discharge of duty. The police also cleared the protest site at Jantar Mantar by removing cots, mattresses and other belongings of the wrestlers.

Excerpts from Wikipedia [ends here]

Thoughts:

With the development of events such as timing the protest on an key event such as inaugural of an all new parliamentary complex, and the upcoming elections coming year; there is a decent possibility of political games behind the timing of the issue.

Without any disregard for the possibility of genuineness of the case, there should be a better way to highlight the issue. Maybe, they didn't have a better chance  of timing than this to grab a larger attention, which could be true too. But a complaint dated back to as old as 2012 to be dragged for so long is truly unacceptable.

Hope the relevant authorities and governance would take this up and resolve it for the better case.