Wrestlers MeToo protest at Jantar Mantar: Sonu Sood, Swara Bhasker, Onir show support after PT Usha snubs

Recently PT Usha reprimanded the wrestlers who are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its president, and also a BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment, however they have found support with Indian film celebrities who took to social media to spread awareness and express solidarity with them.

Delhi’s Jantar Mantar saw several national award winning wrestlers gather in protests since Sunday demanding that action be taken against Singh based on the sexual harassment allegations, including intimidation and exploitation, that were found by an oversight panel which they want made public. The sit-in was first staged in January at the same location and wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik demanded for the disbanding of the WFI.

Following this an oversight committee headed by Mary Kom was formed by the sports ministry to investigate the matter and submit findings in a month. This deadline was extended by two week and Babita Phogat was added to the committee on the wrestler’s insistence.

When Usha, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, was asked if the IOA would provide support to the wrestlers who refuse to stop their protests until their demands are met, she had said, “Thoda toh discipline hona chahiye (there should be some discipline). Instead of coming to us they have gone straight to the streets. It’s not good for sport.”

Pooja Bhatt criticised Usha’s statement and retweeted a video of a wrestler crying as she expresses her ordeal, “This is not ‘hitting back’. This is saying things as they are. Plainly, truthfully. In times of lies truth sounds & feels like a gunshot or blow as is obvious from the much abused & overused term ‘hit back’. #IStandWithMyChampions”.

Bhatt also shared a passage and wrote, “Reality over imagery. Truth over lies. Empathy & trust over bright-siding & gaslighting. (sic)” Celebrities including Sonu Sood, Swara Bhasker, Prakash Raj, Pooja Bhatt and Onir, came out to show their support to the athletes in their fight for justice.

Bhasker took to Twitter and wrote, “Shameful that our top International athletes are forced to protest on streets against sexual harassment but accused BJP MP is being consistently shielded by the govt. #IStandWithMyChampions Sack & investigate #BrijBhushanSharanSingh.”

Onir wrote, “#IStandWithMyChampions It’s a shame that there is so much resistance to give justice to so many women athletes. Disrespectful.”Actor-philanthropist Sonu Sood also expressed that he was hopeful that “the sportspersons of the country will definitely win the battle of wrestling against injustice.”