Protesting fighters consider next step after SC closes proceedings on their guilty plea

The protesting fighters are still contemplating their next move after the Supreme Court closed proceedings on their guilty plea even as Sports Minister Anurag Thakur asked them to have faith in the system and said that the investigation will clear everything up.

With the Delhi Police blocking more fighters from entering the protest site, only a few farmers were able to contact Jantar Mantar to extend their support to the aggrieved fighters.

The usual fervor was lacking as the protest entered on the 13th, although political leaders and farmers continued to visit the fighters. Kumari Selja congress leaders Kiran Choudhary and Anil Kumar extended their support to the fighters.

“Our legal team and mentors are still discussing the next step. We will let you know once we finalize something,” Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia told PTI.

Wrestlers have the option of going to a lower court or to the Delhi High Court if they are dissatisfied with the police investigation into sexual harassment charges against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh .

On Thursday, the Supreme Court closed proceedings on the women fighters’ petition, saying the prayer for a FIR has been answered. The fighters said the high court order was not a setback for them.

The Delhi Police have registered two FIRs, including one on the POCSO Act, against Singh.

The police have also recorded statements from five fighters, including the minor.

“It is my request to all the athletes who are agitating there that whatever their demands are, they are met. The court has also given its instructions and they should allow an impartial investigation to be completed,” Thakur said in Lucknow on the sidelines of a Khelo India event.

“Delhi Police will do ‘doodh ka doodh pani ka pani’ and take strict action as per the law,” it added.

The wrestlers, who alleged that police personnel misbehaved with them on Wednesday night, have threatened to return prizes the government has awarded them in the past.

Renowned wrestling coach Mahvir Phogat, uncle of Vinesh Phogat, who is the face of the protest, also made a similar threat.

He is a Dronacharya recipient, having received the honor in 2016.

“I will return my medals if justice is not done in the case,” Phogat said.

“The kind of accusations he (the WFI chief) is facing, action must be taken against him and he must be arrested,” added Phogat, who joined the BJP more than three years ago.

Asked if he had spoken to any senior government officials or raised the matter at the party level, he said: “No, there hasn’t been any talk so far.” On Thursday, many Khaps held protests, including in Hisar, Bhiwani, Jind and Rohtak, expressing solidarity with the fighters and demanding justice for them.

Meanwhile, former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly said he would not like to comment on the matter as he “does not have complete knowledge” about it.

“Let them fight their battle. That is what it is. I really don’t know what’s going on there. Obviously I read in the newspapers and I realize one thing in the sports world that you don’t talk about things that you don’t have full knowledge of,” Ganguly said.

“So, I hope it gets resolved. The wrestlers have won many medals and brought accolades to the country. Hopefully it will be resolved”, added the former president of the BCCI.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)