PT Usha at Jantar Mantar with Protesting wrestlers
PT Usha, the president of the Indian Olympic Association, arrived at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where wrestlers are protesting for 11 days against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Usha, a former track star and chairperson of the Athletes Commission (AC), visited the protesting wrestlers today.
The wrestlers had expressed anger yesterday over the delay in the investigation into their case, as well as shock that Usha and boxing icon Mary Kom, also a member of the AC, had not shown support for their cause.
Last week, Usha expressed her opinion that the wrestlers should have demonstrated greater discipline. Mary, who chaired the sports ministry’s oversight committee investigating the sexual harassment accusations, has not made any remarks regarding the ongoing protests.
The AC has not yet contacted the wrestlers; its members have stated that a statement expressing support for the protestors was prevented at the drafting stage.
On Tuesday, Om Prakash Karhana, an IOA’s athletes commission member, spoke out to support the wrestlers, stating that “justice must be delivered to athletes who are battling for their rights.”
Karhana, a former national record-holding shot putter and Asian champion, said sweeping the wrestlers’ charges under the rug would undermine Indian sport because participants would lose faith in the system.
“I’m not talking on behalf of the athlete’s commission, but my personal view is that if athletes have come out in the open to battle for their rights, the system in the nation should take steps to deliver justice to them as soon as possible,” Karhana, who retired last year, said news agency PTI.
After seven wrestlers filed a complaint against Singh, the Delhi Police took their time registering an FIR against him. On Friday, two FIRs were filed against Singh.
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