Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and other cricketers have lent support to the protesting Indian wrestlers who have been demanding the dismissal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Indian wrestling federation chief. The wrestlers have alleged that Singh sexually abused and exploited women wrestlers over the past decade.
Renowned Indian wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others are currently protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and have been training and sleeping at the site for past one month.
They were part of a group of 30-odd wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in January this year, too, when they made public the allegations against Singh, a member of parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The SC noted that there are serious allegations that are contained in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India. The apex court also issued notice to Delhi Police pertaining to the plea filed by the wrestlers.
After a week later when complaint was filed against Singh, the Delhi Police on Friday, agreed to investigate the charges against Singh.
On Friday, Phogat issued a plea of sorts to the Indian cricket community, asking why they had been silent on the plight of their fellow sportspersons.
"You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya [What has happened now]? Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there's something fishy going on there too?
The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up. 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,” she had said to Indian Express.
This appeal seemed to have an effect as Kapil Dev, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan took to social media to show their concerns.
Kapil Dev posted a story on his Instagram saying: "Will they ever get justice.”
“Sakshi, Vinesh are India’s pride. I am pained as a sportsperson to find pride of our country coming out to protest on the streets. I pray that they get justice. #IStandWithWrestlers," Harbhajan tweeted.
Virender Sehwag showed his support towards the wrestlers who restarted their protest last weekend.
“बहुत दुःख की बात है की हमारे champions जिन्होंने देश का बड़ा नाम किया है , झंडा लहराया है , हम सबको इतनी ख़ुशियाँ दी हैं, उन्हें आज सड़क पर आना पड़ा है। बड़ा संवेदनशील मामला है और इसकी निष्पक्ष जाँच होनी चाहिए। उम्मीद है खिलाड़ियों को न्याय मिलेगा।," Sehwag tweeted.
Irfan Pathan also took to Twitter to say that the athletes are our pride and tweeted: “Indian athletes are always our pride not only when they get medals for us…”
