Wrestlers detained ahead of march to new Parliament; angry netizens call out the dichotomy

This comes after the wrestlers planned a ‘Mahila Mahapanchayat’ outside the new Parliament building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Hyderabad: Several protesting wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik were detained by the Delhi Police on Sunday after a scuffle broke out between protestors and police at Jantar Mantar.

This comes after the wrestlers planned a ‘Mahila Mahapanchayat’ outside the new Parliament building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Indian wrestlers have been protesting for over a month demanding the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

In a video shared earlier on multiple social media platforms, Vinesh Phogat alleged that “democracy was being murdered at Jantar Mantar in broad daylight. On the one hand, the Prime Minister inaugurating a new Parliament and on the other, people who have turned up in our support are being detained (sic),” Phogat said.

जंतर मंतर पर सरेआम लोकतंत्र की हत्या हो रही

एक तरफ़ लोकतंत्र के नये भवन का उद्घाटन किया है प्रधानमंत्री जी ने

दूसरी तरफ़ हमारे लोगों की गिरफ़्तारियाँ चालू हैं. pic.twitter.com/ry5Wv9xn5A

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) May 28, 2023

Speaking to the media, Olympian Bajrang Poonia reportedly said: “We were carrying out our march peacefully but look at the way the women are being manhandled.”

Sakshi Malik also took to Twitter and alleged that the Delhi Police is trying to dismantle the month-long protest at Jantar Mantar. “This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us! (sic),” she captioned another video.

This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us! #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/rjrZvgAlSO

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

Reacting to the issue on Twitter, a user wrote, “What a shame. The new parliament can’t hear, see and feel anything. Our medal-winner wrestlers are struggling for justice but no one to listen (sic).” “While PM Modi is giving a long lecture on ‘democracy’ at the inauguration of the new Parliament, this is how democracy is being trampled, this is how India’s daughters are being trampled upon. Is this the price of asking for justice in ‘new India’? (sic),” said another.

India in pictures. #Sengol and #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/2ytkePg6hq

— Pooja Prasanna (@PoojaPrasanna4) May 28, 2023

Modi ji’s focus on #Sengol than our national flag 🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/bUqvZPMooJ

— YSR (@ysathishreddy) May 28, 2023

Shame 😞 https://t.co/g7J1Hmx5PV

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) May 28, 2023

Raja in joy
Praja in pain! pic.twitter.com/lej00kKMM0

— YSR (@ysathishreddy) May 28, 2023

Here you go India. Here’s what we voted for!
🙏🏽✨ pic.twitter.com/knpvgoUHEl

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) May 28, 2023