The protesting wrestlers on Tuesday took out a candle march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate in New Delhi demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over charges of sexual harassment. The police neither officially gave nor denied permission to the protesters to hold the candlelight march at Jantar Mantar, reported news agency PTI.
Concluding the march, wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced that an ‘all-women mahapanchayat’ will be held on May 28 outside the new Parliament building which will be inaugurated the same day.
Star wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik have been staging sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, demanding Singh’s arrest, who has been accused by six female wrestlers, including a minor, of sexual harassment.
VIDEO | Protesting wrestlers take out march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate, demanding arrest of WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh. pic.twitter.com/tdeicgqQx4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 23, 2023
Ahead of the march, the Delhi Traffic Police urged commuters to avoid Mansingh Road and the C-Hexagon and plan their travel for ISBTs, railway stations and the airport accordingly.
“A candle march from R/A Jaswant Singh Road to Kartavyapath Crossing on Mansingh Road will be held today at 1600 hrs onwards. Commuters are advised to avoid Mansingh Road and C-Hexagon and plan their travel for ISBT/Rly. Stations/Airports with sufficient time at hand,” it said.
Last week Singh said that he is ready for a narco test but on a condition that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia too undergo the same.
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Responding to Singh’s condition Punia said the wrestlers were ready for the test and also put a condition that it should be carried out under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
The wrestlers had earlier staged a protest in January but later called it off after being assured that the government would probe the matter and a five-member panel was formed to look into the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.