Shame! Oppn Leaders Slam Delhi Police Action On Protesting Wrestlers

Several wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik were detained by the police as they marched to the Parliament to conduct the 'Mahila Mahapanchayat' to demand action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan.

The dramatic detention of protesting wrestlers by Delhi Police was condemned by several politicians and former sportspersons who termed the act as ''shame on the government''.

''Strongly condemn the way Delhi Police manhandled Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers. It's shameful our champions are treated in this manner,'' West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi said that with the coronation over, the arrogant king is crushing the voice of the people on the streets.

"The medals on the chest of the players are the pride of our country. With those medals, due to the hard work of the sportspersons, the honour of the country increases. The arrogance of the BJP government has increased so much that the government is mercilessly trampling the voices of our women players under their boots. This is totally wrong. The whole country is watching the arrogance of the government and this injustice.," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said democracy is not just about buildings but functions with the voice of people.

''The right to inaugurate the new Parliament was snatched from the President. Women players were beaten up on the streets with dictatorial force,'' he alleged in a tweet in Hindi. ''The three lies of BJP-RSS rulers now stand exposed before the country - Democracy, Nationalism and Save Daughter. Remember Modi ji, democracy is not just about buildings but functions with the voice of the public,'' Kharge said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) termed the police action as shame on this Govt.''Delhi Police have detailed women wrestlers! Medal winning wrestlers bundled into buses and detained for fighting sexual harassment while man accused will be sitting in new parliament building. Shame!''

Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the protest site at Jantar Mantar as wrestlers and police officers shoved and pushed each other when Vinesh Phogat, her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat and Sakshi Malik tried to breach the barricades.

Vinesh provided a strong resistance against her detention and Sangeeta clung on to her cousin sister while lying on the road as the struggle continued for a few dramatic minutes.

The police officials dragged and lifted them into buses along with several other wresters and their supporters. The wrestlers were pushed into buses and taken to different unknown locations.

The champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against former Wresting Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers, including a minor.

The police had warned the wrestlers not to move towards Parliament but they went ahead, leading to the scuffle.

Rajasthan Congress MLA and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games discus throw gold medallist Krishna Poonia too condemned the police action.