Members of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning cricket team urged the protesting wrestlers not to make a hasty choice to immerse their medals in Ganga, and expressed hope that their complaints would be addressed, PTI reported.
Last week, several wrestlers were detained and their protest site at Jantar Mantar was cleared after they tried to march to the new Parliament building demanding Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s arrest, whom they had accused of alleged sexual harassment. Pictures of the wrestlers being dragged and carried off in buses were widely shared on social media, sparking criticism from top athletes and Opposition leaders.
On Tuesday, Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat had arrived in Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga. Naresh Tikait, a Bharatiya Kisan Union leader, convinced them not to do so and sought five days’ time to find a resolution to their demands.
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“We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard-earned medals into river Ganga,” said the statement released by the cricketers, reported by PTI on Friday.
The statement further added, “Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail.”
Former all-rounder Madan Lal, who was also a part of the 1983 team told ANI, “Heartbreaking that they decided to throw their medals. We aren’t in favour of them throwing their medals because earning medals isn’t easy and we urge the Government to sort out this issue as soon as possible.”
Earlier in April, Phogat had specifically questioned why star cricketers and other top sportspersons were silent. Since then, several top athletes have spoken up including Olympic gold medalists Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra along with Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri. Cricketers like Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan have also expressed their views on the topic.
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“The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up,” The Indian Express had quoted Phogat as saying in an interview. “We aren’t saying that you speak in our favour, but at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing.”
Seven complainants, including a minor, have accused Wrestling Federation of India chief Singh of demanding sexual favours for professional help on at least two occasions, 15 incidents of molestation and other forms of sexual harassment, The Indian Express reported on Friday.
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