A Long Battle Ahead

The wrestlers' pursuit of justice has so far been heroic, but their fight will clearly not end with Singh's arrest

- Ammu Joseph

THE courage, determination, commitment and steadfastness with which the country’s top wrestlers (including Olympians) have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, long-time president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), is truly extraordinary. Their public struggle for justice began in mid-January 2023 and was resumed in late April in the absence of any real action against Singh, a six-time Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accused by them of sexual harassment and intimidation.

The two First Information Reports (FIRs) finally filed by the Delhi Police on April 28, based on the complaints of half a dozen wrestlers, including a minor, reportedly list many incidents of sexual harassment and molestation (including inappropriate touching), several instances of intimidation (including stalking) and some occasions when the WFI chief asked for sexual favours in exchange for professional assistance.